–President Ali announces in engagement with Region Five youths as part of agro-business push
–Minister Mustapha says agriculture must be seen as sector which requires talent, knowledge, modern approaches

IN a strategic move to advance Guyana’s agricultural sector, President, Dr Irfaan Ali met with a group of young people from Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) on Tuesday morning for a breakfast meeting at Park Square Funcity in Mahaicony.

The focus of the discussion was on empowering the youth to play an active role in the growing agro-business sector, positioning them as key contributors to the country’s sustainable development.

The meeting, which was attended by Minister of Agriculture Zulfikar Mustapha, technical staff from the Ministry of Agriculture and representatives from the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI) and Demerara Bank, underscored the government’s commitment to fostering innovation and entrepreneurship among the nation’s youth.

President Ali emphasised that their involvement is crucial to advancing the agricultural sector, which has been identified as a critical pillar of Guyana’s economy.
The Head of State unveiled a government-supported project aimed at boosting the agro-food business. This initiative, which falls under the Agriculture and Innovation Entrepreneurship Programme, seeks to harness technological advancements and environmentally friendly practices to produce chickens, prawns, shrimp, and eggs.

Dr Ali related: “This project is about all of you having a stake in owning something transformative. It is bringing the banks on board, the government, creating the enabling environment, the infrastructure, helping you with the business plan, giving you the technical assistance.”
He said that the government aims to establish a major facility in every region to achieve self-sufficiency in egg and chicken production. He also mentioned the soon-to-be-completed modern shade house facility in Region Five, along with the region’s prawn-production facility.
The Head of State noted that the shade house project has been tremendously successful.
President Ali, during his remarks, stressed the importance of commitment and vision in achieving success. He reasoned that when you dedicate yourself to a goal and have a clear vision of what you want to achieve, success is inevitable.

FINANCING WILL BE AVAILABLE
The Guyanese leader disclosed that financing will be available very soon for a number of projects. On this note, President Ali highlighted the importance of sound financial management in agriculture.

He pointed out that commercial banks have committed to having financial specialists advise investors and farmers on key areas such as financial management, accountability, and risk assessment.

According to him, historically, when farmers have a successful crop, they often make the mistake of immediately reinvesting in bigger equipment, which can lead to financial instability.
The President cautioned against this, urging farmers to save for tough times rather than spending all their profits, as poor financial planning could set them up for failure.
For his part, Minister Zulfikar Mustapha emphasised the unique opportunities young people in Guyana have under the current government, led by President Ali.

He highlighted that this administration genuinely cares about the youth and is committed to integrating them into productive activities, particularly in agriculture.
Mustapha underscored that young people are crucial to the development of Guyana’s food eco-system, noting a common misconception that agriculture is a low-skilled, menial job.

He challenged this perception, urging young people to see agriculture as an innovative and essential sector that requires talent, knowledge, and modern approaches.
The Agriculture Minister pointed out that more than 1,000 brilliant young people are a part of the Agriculture and Innovation Entrepreneurship Programme.

“We started out with the climate-smart agriculture where we have a number of shade houses. And we are doing things now in a more scientific way, in a more innovative way, in a more modern way… less labour intensive. And today, many young people who never wanted to get involved in the agriculture sector … they now earn their livelihood[s] from agriculture,” he said.

Minister Mustapha encouraged the youths to take advantage of the opportunities being offered.
He added: “We will work with you. Our extension officers will work with you. We will assign special project officers to work along with you and the bankers will work with us. You are having this opportunity… grab it with both hands. And a year from now, this will transform your entire lives.”

Dr Dwight Waldron, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Guyana Livestock and Development Authority (GLDA), emphasised that poultry production is a significant and profitable industry in Guyana. He highlighted the potential for producing value-added products such as ham and chicken sausage, noting that only the Guyana School of Agriculture (GSA) is currently making chicken ham.

He encouraged other groups, such as those in Mahaicony, which already produce bacon, to explore these opportunities, stating that GSA alone cannot meet the demand for ham across the country. Waldron reassured the gathering that the government has laid the groundwork, and with commitment, substantial profits can be made. “There are other opportunities where you can make serious money and the heavy lifting has already been done by the Government of Guyana. You just have to be ready, be committed and it’s going to happen,” he said.

Dr Waldron added: “In five years, I want us to have the biggest livestock show in Guyana. It must not be what Roraima is doing. We can have it right here in Guyana and it can only happen if you guys take the reins from your parents. I am sure with the support from our end, this can happen.”
Meanwhile, representatives from GBTI and Demerara Bank, who were present at the meeting, reaffirmed their commitment to supporting youth-led agro-business initiatives.
They announced that the banks would offer special financing packages tailored to the needs of farmers as well as young entrepreneurs in the agricultural sector.