—Minister Mustapha commends turnout, encourages greater participation next year

SCORES of farmers from Regions Three, Four, Five, and Six gathered on Sunday to celebrate Guyana’s growing livestock industry at the inaugural ruminant exhibition hosted by the Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA). The event, which formed part of Agriculture Month 2025 activities, provided an opportunity for farmers to showcase their animals and highlight the importance of livestock farming to the nation’s food security and economy.

The day’s activities included a fireside curry-cooking competition, featuring participants from the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI), the Guyana School of Agriculture (GSA), and representatives from Regions Three and Five. Behind the scenes, the event brought together many of the hardworking individuals who have dedicated years to strengthening Guyana’s livestock sub-sector and supplying the country with quality meats.

Among the participants was Colin Griffith, a cattle farmer from Golden Fleece, West Coast Berbice (Region Five), who has been in the livestock industry for approximately 30 years. Speaking at the exhibition, Griffith said it was his first time attending such an event and described the experience as both enjoyable and inspiring.

“I never go to an exhibition, but today I feel nice and I like the get together and so on about what’s going on. When I look at the sheep and the goat and the cows and everything, it’s nice, it isn’t bad,” Griffith said with a smile.

In addition to rearing cattle, Griffith also tends to sheep, ducks, fowls, and other animals on his farm.

Another exhibitor, Ricordo Bhagnauth from Region Three (Essequibo Islands–West Demerara), has been a livestock farmer for the past 20 years. He said farming has been a life-long passion, one he inherited through family tradition. Bhagnauth explained that Agriculture Month is a time he eagerly looks forward to each year.

“Like people got car race and car show — when the time reach, they’re ready to go. Me ready to come exhibition with me animals,” he said enthusiastically.

He added that while he hopes for more support for farmers in the future, he remains proud to contribute to Guyana’s agricultural development.

“I glad to get a little help. So later on, time to come, I maybe might get my help. Everybody have their day,” Bhagnauth shared, noting that he currently rears blackhead dorper, white dorper, and bull goats, among other breeds.

Describing the exhibition as an important opportunity for farmers to showcase their livelihoods, he said,

“I always turn out to exhibition. As I said, this is me sports. So, when this time meet, I preparing and I coming out. I is a farmer. So this is my livelihood.”

Meanwhile, Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha, praised the initiative and expressed optimism that next year’s exhibition will attract even more participants from across the country.

“A lot of people who are here today are very impressed, and many of them told me that they never knew we have all these types of animals in the country,” the Minister said.

Minister Mustapha also announced that on October 16, the Ministry of Agriculture, in collaboration with the Office of the First Lady, will host a Farmers’ Market and other attractions at the Esplanade, Seawall Bandstand, followed by a World Food Day celebration on October 17 at the Albion Sports Complex.

The inaugural ruminant exhibition underscored the resilience, pride, and dedication of Guyanese farmers — men and women who continue to play a vital role in sustaining the country’s livestock sub-sector and advancing its agricultural future.