By Bebi Shafeah Oosman

IN a bold initiative to enhance agricultural productivity, the government is crafting a masterplan to effectively utilise and transform approximately 40,000 acres of land in the Upper Corentyne, Region Six area.
The plan is to bring all available land into productive use, including privately held areas stretching to Moleson Creek.

To support this vision, the government has allocated $2 billion in the budget for infrastructural development aimed at enhancing land productivity.
This funding, set aside in the last budget, remains unspent, but will be utilised to fulfil the government’s commitments to the agricultural sector, Vice-President Bharrat Jagdeo said during an engagement with Berbice residents on Tuesday.
He outlined plans to utilise some 25,000 acres of the Guyana Sugar Corporation’s (GuySuCo)’s land at Skeldon for various agricultural initiatives.

The proposal includes setting aside portions for aquaculture, specifically shrimp farming and hemp cultivation. The plan also aims to empower laid-off workers by involving them in ownership structures, allowing them to benefit from the agricultural projects.
He said: “On GuySuCo’s land, the 25,000 acres or so that we have at Skeldon, we intend to set aside some of it for aquaculture, that is shrimp farming, some for hemp-growing and we will start that soon and this will be on small plots. So maybe small plots of one to two acres each, and a lot of the people who were laid off at Skeldon, we are thinking of getting them involved in ownership type of structure, so we’re putting infrastructure there and then keep the remaining, maybe around 20,000 acres for the possible growth of cane again,” Jagdeo said.
Additionally, he mentioned the potential for growing new varieties of sugarcane at the location that could double existing yields.

The government is also exploring other crop options, including onions, using a promising hybrid variety called Aquarius f1 known for its high productivity.
To further support these agricultural efforts, the government is establishing a tissue-culture lab capable of producing up to four million quality plants annually.

There are also plans to invest in a large-scale nursery, where locals will be trained to produce seedlings and engage in grafting, making high-quality planting material readily available.
Stressing that he wants to see “output,” the Vice President emphasised the importance of developing essential infrastructure to make these 40,000 acres productive.
He expressed a willingness to work directly with local farmers and suggested using this year’s budget resources to assist with infrastructural needs.
Jagdeo said: “If you have a desire to do things you have a supportive government.”

Addressing farmers in the region, he highlighted ongoing efforts to enhance access to remote agricultural areas, including planned works on a trail coming from Orealla to facilitate transportation for farmers upstream.
The Vice-President also reassured fishermen about the completion of a new facility at the Number 66 Wharf, emphasising the government’s commitment to supporting the fishing community and streamlining operations. He urged them to use the facility immediately instead of waiting for it to be commissioned.

On the broader agricultural landscape, the government is also promoting diversification into high-value crops to meet local demand, especially in the hospitality and oil industries.
Innovative approaches such as mechanisation and modern farming techniques are being prioritised to address labour shortages in agriculture. The use of drones for crop management and the establishment of soil-testing labs are key components of the modernisation efforts.