RECORDING a 13.9 per cent growth during the first half of 2025, Guyana’s rice industry continues to soar, according to the Ministry of Finance’s Mid-Year Report.

Data from the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) shows that 410,194 tonnes of rice equivalent were produced between January and June 2025, up from 362,030 tonnes for the same period last year. Officials attributed the increase largely to favourable weather conditions and consistent yields, with the first crop of 2025 achieving an average of 6.6 tonnes per hectare, the same as in 2024.

It was previously reported that the rice industry’s target for the first crop of this year had already been surpassed, marking a strong start towards meeting the overall national goal of 824,000 tonnes for 2025.

The country’s production has seen a steady increase over the past four years. In 2020, the first crop was averaged at 5.7 tonnes and by 2024 it had increased to 6.6 tonnes per hectare.

This incremental increase in rice production has been ongoing since 2021, when production was 559,789 tonnes. In 2022, it increased to 610,595 tonnes, and 653,706 tonnes in 2023.

It is expected that in the second crop,  the country will produce nine billion bags of paddy.

CONTINUED SUPPORT

Already the government has invested $2 billion in price support, ensuring that farmers received at least $4,000 per bag of paddy.

Additionally, the government has supplied millions of dollars in fertiliser and seed-paddy insurance; removed VAT on machinery, equipment, and agro-chemicals; negotiated and settled Panama’s $1.5 billion debt to local millers and zero rated the Guyana Rice Development Board’s (GRDB) sales commission in 2025.

In addition to this, rice farmers in Guyana now have access to crop insurance for the first time.

Rice farmers will see a further $2.7 billion being invested in the sector.

According to President, Dr Irfaan Ali, farmers will see an injection of $300 per bag of paddy.