Dear Editor,
I WRITE in response to the letter titled, “Ministry failed to make preparations for bumper rice crop” in the April 24, 2025 edition of the Stabroek News, and another titled “State of the rice industry” in the April 24, 2025 edition of the Kaieteur News.

A passionate critique that regrettably misrepresents the facts surrounding the Ministry of Agriculture’s performance under Honourable Minister Zulfikar Mustapha.
To allege that Minister Mustapha has done “very little intellectually, strategically, and policy-wise” is not only inaccurate, but dismissive of the forward-thinking, hands-on leadership he has demonstrated.

Over the past four years, the Ministry has steered the agricultural sector through global disruptions, from pandemics to climate shocks while increasing productivity, resilience, and diversification.

Agriculture is not governed by ideal conditions, but by responsive, adaptive policymaking, precisely what Minister Mustapha and President Irfaan Ali have championed.
The Ministry’s record includes improvements in seed paddy production, the introduction of climate-resilient varieties, new drying facilities, and expanded water infrastructure, all contributing to a clear upward trajectory.

Let the facts speak! Rice production reached record levels in multiple quarters, and new markets have been secured in Latin America and the Caribbean. The suggestion that the Ministry failed to plan for a bumper crop disregards months of groundwork and engagement. Since January 2024, the Minister and Vice-President have held continuous consultations with millers and farmers, particularly in Region Two. Millers assured the Government that they had sufficient capacity to take in all the paddy produced along the coast.

Despite these assurances, the Government did not remain idle. As an additional safeguard, it secured markets outside of Region Two, enabling farmers to now sell their paddy to mills in Regions Three and Four.

Furthermore, in response to payment delays and capacity strains, as I am aware that the government has directly intervened. Farmers are now guaranteed to get a minimum of $4000 per bag of paddy from the millers, with the government’s contribution, through subsidization, at a rate of $300 per bag, and activating a buying facility at Hampton Court. This initiative has been progressing well, and has been warmly welcomed by farmers.

The Government will be purchasing 100,000 bags of paddy, and GRDB staff are currently stationed at all mills to oversee and support transparent purchasing operations. This is not a secret!
As for delays at the mills, these are not due to negligence. They result from a combination of increased acreage and higher yields, adverse weather conditions, rollover stocks, and the temporary closure of some mills affected by the loss of the Venezuela market, and delayed payments from Panama. These are complex challenges, and, in my opinion, the Ministry’s response has been comprehensive, measured, and deeply consultative.

In the sugar industry, we must also be honest. Minister Mustapha inherited a broken system. The $13 billion invested has not “vanished”; it has paid wages, rehabilitated facilities, and sustained rural economies. Stabilisation and recovery take time, but the Minister has laid the groundwork. It’s easy to criticise from the sidelines. Far harder is the work of rebuilding an industry, restoring confidence, and fostering innovation. Minister Mustapha has not micromanaged; he has led with vision. His focus remains steadfast on empowering small farmers, opening new markets, modernising agriculture, and building a food-secure Guyana.

Criticism has its place, but it must be rooted in facts, not political convenience. Let’s engage constructively. Let’s build, not tear down, what is being shaped with patience, persistence, and purpose.

Sincerely,
Kimberly Ann Dowrige
Agricultural Development Advocate