AGRICULTURE Minister Zulfikar Mustapha says Guyana is well positioned to benefit from the World Bank’s AgriConnect initiative as government continues to invest in financing, infrastructure and market access to support the growth of the agriculture sector.
The minister made the remarks on Tuesday during a meeting with members of the World Bank AgriConnect Mission Team, where discussions focused on the implementation of the initiative in Guyana and opportunities to further strengthen the country’s agricultural sector.
The mission team comprised Senior Agriculture Economists Eva Hasiner and Winston Dawes, along with Associate Investment Officer Andres Ramirez Salom.
During the engagement, Minister Mustapha reaffirmed the Ministry of Agriculture’s commitment to the successful implementation of the programme, noting that Guyana is strategically positioned to maximise the benefits of the initiative following its launch last year.
According to the minister, while significant progress continues to be made in agriculture, logistical challenges remain a concern both locally and across the wider Caribbean region.
He also highlighted measures being undertaken by the government to improve farmers’ access to financing, including the establishment of the Guyana Development Bank, which is expected to provide greater support for investment in agriculture and rural development.
Mustapha further pointed to innovative partnerships that are being encouraged to connect farmers who possess land and other agricultural assets with investors who have access to capital.
The minister emphasised the importance of stakeholder participation and buy-in for the success of the initiative, noting that future consultations should clearly demonstrate the benefits available to farmers, agri-businesses and other stakeholders.
He said greater awareness and engagement would be critical to ensuring widespread participation and the successful rollout of the programme.
AgriConnect is a World Bank Group initiative designed to help 300 million smallholder farmers transition from subsistence farming to surplus production.
The programme aims to transform smallholder agriculture into a dynamic engine for job creation, investment and resilience by connecting farmers more directly with financing, technology, infrastructure and markets.
The initiative is expected to support efforts to improve agricultural productivity, strengthen value chains and create new economic opportunities for farmers and agribusinesses across participating countries.