THE Government of Guyana has announced the nomination of Muhammad Ibrahim for the position of Director-General of the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), highlighting his four decades of leadership in agricultural development and resilience.
In a statement issued by President Irfaan Ali and Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha, the government described Ibrahim as a candidate with “invaluable technical and political experience and leadership skills forged over nearly 40 years of work in agricultural productivity and resilience”.
In the statement issued on Saturday, officials emphasised that Ibrahim’s work has consistently promoted the role of science, innovation, and technology in strengthening farmers, while fostering dialogue between governments, the private sector, and financing institutions. “It is this experience that our country, honouring his name, wants to bring to all of the Americas,” the statement declared.
The government linked Ibrahim’s nomination to Guyana’s wider transformation in agriculture. Though economic growth in recent years has been largely fueled by offshore oil discoveries, leaders stressed that the country is now also undergoing “a revolution in agriculture, which is making it more productive, diversified, competitive and resilient”.
This transformation has positioned Guyana as a key player in the Caribbean’s food security efforts. According to the statement, the country has ensured self-sufficiency at home, while consolidating its role in the region’s food basket. A recent study by the Universities of Göttingen and Edinburgh was cited as proof, showing Guyana to be the only country in the world that is completely self-sufficient in food.
The government highlighted targeted investments as the driving force behind these results. Since 2023, eight per cent of the national budget has been allocated to agriculture, a decision made after the COVID-19 pandemic exposed global weaknesses in food security. Strategic projects now include record rice production, the development of the largest hydroponic farm in the Caribbean, and crop insurance to protect farmers against natural disasters.
President Ali and Minister Mustapha said these achievements underscore Guyana’s suitability to play a greater role in shaping agricultural policy across the Hemisphere, with Ibrahim at the helm.
“Guyana wants to be at the forefront of IICA with one of its most brilliant leaders in the field of food,” the statement read.
Ibrahim, who has worked extensively with governments, farmers, and development institutions, is being backed not only by Guyana but also by the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) in the race for the IICA top post.
The government concluded that his leadership, combined with Guyana’s recent track record in modernising its agriculture sector, represents “a natural path towards ensuring sustainable food systems for the Americas”.