The Government has invested more than G$7.4 billion in agricultural development in hinterland and Indigenous communities since 2020 as it seeks to transition the sector from subsistence farming to sustainable commercial production, Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha said.
Mustapha made the disclosure during an interactive session on the third day of the National Toshaos Council Conference, where he outlined the Government’s investments and future plans to strengthen food security, create employment and increase household incomes in Indigenous communities.
He said the Government’s strategy is focused on developing a modern, commercially driven agricultural sector capable of generating sustainable economic opportunities for hinterland communities.
“First and foremost, our communities must secure nutritious food for every family. That is the foundation. But once food security is achieved, we must move beyond subsistence. Our projects must do more than feed communities; they must create sustainable income and long-term economic strength,” the minister said.
According to Mustapha, the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute has invested more than G$2 billion in hinterland and Amerindian communities over the past six years to expand agricultural production and diversify livelihoods.
Coconut has also been identified as an emerging high-value crop, with approximately G$2.68 million invested in its development.
More than 5,000 coconut seedlings have been distributed in Region One, while development programmes are also underway in Regions Three, Four, Five, Six, Nine and Ten.
“This is an emerging high-value crop for hinterland communities, and we are positioning farmers to benefit from the growing local and regional demand,” Mustapha said.
The fisheries and aquaculture sector has received approximately G$393 million in investments between 2020 and 2026 to expand production in hinterland and Indigenous communities.
The minister said cage aquaculture projects are being implemented in Regions Two, Four, Seven, Nine and Ten, while approximately G$22 million has been invested in fish ponds and related infrastructure in Region Nine alone.
“Aquaculture is now one of the fastest-growing income streams in Indigenous communities. We are seeing tremendous opportunities for villages to increase production while generating sustainable incomes,” he said.
Livestock development has also been prioritised, with the Guyana Livestock Development Authority investing approximately G$773.8 million to strengthen livestock production in hinterland communities.
Mustapha said these investments have also contributed to increased honey production in Regions Three, Seven, Eight and Nine, creating additional income-generating opportunities.
Eight commercial investment profiles identified
Looking ahead, Mustapha said the Government has identified eight commercially viable investment profiles based on the unique strengths and competitive advantages of different hinterland regions.
“We have examined every region of this country and identified eight commercial-scale investment profiles that are ready for expansion. These are not experiments; they are strategic, data-driven opportunities designed to lift incomes, create jobs and position villages as engines of economic growth,” he said.
The priority areas include broiler poultry production, cattle rearing, swine production, sheep farming, honey production, cage aquaculture, crop cultivation and agro-processing.
The crop development areas identified include coconut, dragon fruit, watermelon, carrots, strawberries, avocado, hot peppers, citrus, turmeric and ginger.
Mustapha stressed that future projects must be commercially viable and capable of generating sustainable returns rather than creating dependency.
“To ensure viability, not dependency, every proposal must answer three simple but powerful questions: What problem are we solving? Who will buy the products? And how will the project generate income year after year?” he said.
He said the ministry has already developed and costed commercial-scale production models and matched them with regions best suited for particular commodities.
The minister also highlighted agro-processing as critical to transforming rural economies and increasing the value of agricultural production.
“We want families to move away from depending solely on raw produce to producing value-added goods, earning higher incomes and entering new markets,” he said.
He encouraged communities to expand the production of farine, cassava bread, cassava starch, cassareep, packaged spices, bottled honey, pepper sauces, fruit jams and juices.
According to Mustapha, agro-processing is also creating new opportunities for women’s employment and youth entrepreneurship.
The National Toshaos Council Conference is being held at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre under the theme: “Empowering Leadership while Building Sustainable Village Economies through Inclusive Partnership.”