Rice, sugar, poultry, animal feed such as corn and soy, high-value crops like fruits for juices, honey, coffee, cocoa and niche vegetables are the most promising agricultural products for Guyana's exports. Each segment represents attractive investment opportunities. Rice is our most essential commodity, representing 78% of our agricultural exports. Fish and fish products are the nation’s second-largest export, representing 13%, followed by sugar at 6%.

The global coconut market is predicted to grow significantly, and Guyana aims to boost coconut production to meet heightened demand, with potential export markets in the Caribbean, North America and Europe. Additionally, the aquaculture industry is growing due to the demand for essential products such as shrimp, catfish, tilapia and pacu. We have already established strong trading ties for seafood exports with markets in the Caribbean, North America, Europe and Asia. Investors have a fantastic chance to take advantage of Guyana's competitive edge in the production and export of seafood. Furthermore, the export of both live animals and processed meat from cattle has a lot of potential.

The local banking sector has been collaborating with the government to support small and medium-sized enterprises and young entrepreneurs in various ways, including the 500 self-sustaining agriculture homestead projects for single women and financing initiatives that promote food security for farmers. For example, the Farmer's Credit Line Program provided by Demerara Bank has an interest rate of 7.5% per annum, which significantly encourages the development of the agricultural sector. Farmers in Guyana can also benefit from Republic Bank’s commitment of $100 million in capital to assist the CARICOM region in developing sustainable agricultural projects. This loan package is specifically designed to meet the needs of small and medium-sized enterprises across the entire agricultural value chain.

Recognizing the agricultural potential of Guyana and by extension the CARICOM region, the government of Guyana remains steadfast in creating an environment conducive to significant private sector investment in areas along the entire value chain such as production, processing, packaging, storage, transport and distribution. Investors are an integral player in achieving the government’s 25 by 2025+ vision. We are actively exploring the new and emerging agri-business opportunities to transform the local agrifood system.

The Ministry of Agriculture has implemented several measures to attract large-scale private investment. These include opening new lands; developing high-yielding, pest-resistant and climate-resilient crop varieties; and developing modern infrastructure such as farm-to-market access roads, flood resilient drainage, modern irrigation structures and abattoirs that meet international standards. Additionally, the government has introduced a range of fiscal and general incentives to attract and facilitate investment in agriculture, including tax concessions on agriculture investment in agro-processing facilities, cold storage and packaging. We have also introduced waivers on import duty and value-added tax for agro-processing equipment and a wide range of agrochemicals such as insecticides, herbicides and fungicides. We have also implemented concessions for large-scale livestock farming. We are establishing export promotion zones to stimulate growth and create an enabling environment for investment. The government of Guyana facilitated more than $31.3 million in foreign direct investment between 2020 and 2024, which has set the groundwork for large-scale development of the agricultural sector.

While technological adoption has faced challenges in parts of the region, Guyana has taken a distinctly progressive approach. Innovation and technology are central pillars of our strategy to modernize agriculture and build a resilient and competitive sector. This government’s vision is for Guyana to adopt advanced solutions and increase the use of high-quality, low-cost technologies to enhance farm productivity and increase food production by 2030. Key advancements such as hydroponics, shade house technology, biotechnology and digital farming solutions are being introduced as part of the government’s efforts to diversify and modernize the industry.

We anticipate a quantum leap in biotechnology for newer crops and animal breeding programs, which will result in improved resilience of crop and animal varieties. We aim to increase technology and mechanization by 15%. In the rice industry, 55% of the land is expected to be fully mechanized by 2030, which will transform agricultural practices and support more sustainable rice farming. Holistically, we are in the process of digitizing our farmers' information for our Agriculture Information System. When fully operational, the new platform will provide real-time data on and for farmers, including agricultural production, pests and diseases, farm issues, weather conditions and government support and extension services.

As part of the broader food transformation strategy, we aim to empower women, youths and marginalized groups. We aim to foster innovation, increase productivity and create more inclusive growth across the food value chain through innovative projects such as the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture’s new Centre of Excellence. This will enhance education, foster innovation and enhance the digitalization of our food ecosystem. Moreover, the government of Guyana is working in collaboration with the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture on another innovative digital initiative called the Situation Room. This advanced monitoring and decision-making tool will enable us to visualize in real-time the various conditions affecting our agricultural sector such as weather patterns, irrigation systems, crop health and market trends.

Challenges posed by climate change – including extreme weather patterns, flooding and rising sea levels – necessitate an urgent approach to enhancing our climate resilience. In response, we are focusing on derisking our agriculture sector by investing in sustainable water management, infrastructure upgrades and practices that strengthen resilience. The Guyana Low Carbon Development Strategy 2030 emphasizes climate-smart practices as a core component of the country's development. The Ministry of Agriculture has adopted measures such as tunnel houses and shade houses to safeguard crops and poultry from pests, flooding and heat stress. Furthermore, the deployment of early warning systems has enhanced farmers' resilience by providing forecasts of climatic events and enabling them to take proactive actions to reduce potential damage.

We have also implemented flood prevention measures and improved infrastructure, including large-scale flood relief systems. We are utilizing the Hope Canal as a model for effective water management. Similar high-level discharge systems are being constructed in regions 2, 5 and 6 at a total cost of $108 million. Furthermore, there are more than 30 powerful pump stations installed along the coast to serve agricultural and residential areas. We have adhered to water management and drought adaptation strategies, particularly during the 2023-2024 El Niño phenomenon, including rainwater harvesting, drip irrigation and cultivating drought-tolerant crops such as cassava, rice and millet. Additionally, agroforestry and soil conservation practices – such as mulching – help retain soil moisture and protect farmlands.

We are also actively involved in mangrove restoration and coastal protection initiatives. So far, more than 1,236 acres of mangroves across more than 35 sites in regions 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 have been restored. In 2024 alone, $1.23 million was allocated for regions 2 and 5. The government of Guyana remains committed to enhancing the resilience of our coastal communities. Our mangroves serve as a natural flood barrier, stabilizing our coastlines and safeguarding agricultural lands.

A recent study published in Nature Food titled, “Gap between national food production and food-based dietary guidance highlights lack of national self-sufficiency," emphasizes the vulnerabilities faced by countries with low self-sufficiency, particularly in response to global shocks such as the COVID-19 pandemic and geopolitical conflicts. The study noted that Guyana's ability to produce a diverse range of food items domestically positions it favorably against such disruptions.

The Ministry of Agriculture successfully cushioned the effects of the pandemic and ensured availability and accessibility of nutritious food for all through several measures. These initiatives included continuous distribution of seed and planting materials to increase and maintain production levels; continuous distribution of poultry, breeding stock, feed, molasses and relevant medicine to fishers and livestock farmers; provision of training and technical support to farmers and agro-processors; continuous distribution of pesticides, fertilizers and ant bait to farmers; continuous capital investment to ensure adequate infrastructure remained in place to enable cultivation; provision of subsidized shade house material; reduction in costs and removal of taxes on key agricultural inputs; and utilization of agriculture hubs to create an enabling environment.