GUYANA’s agricultural sector is set for major transformation with the award of the Molsen Creek Road project, valued at just over $800 million. The 18-kilometre roadway will significantly enhance access to agricultural lands and support development initiatives outlined by President Irfaan Ali.

“That will enhance the development the President spoke about,” said Zulfikar Mustapha, Minister of Agriculture, during an interview with the Sunday Chronicle in Region Six on Saturday, as he highlighted the critical role of infrastructure in facilitating agricultural growth in the region.

Mustapha also revealed a series of ongoing and upcoming initiatives aimed at revitalising and diversifying the sector. Key among them is a plan to resuscitate the cane farmers’ cooperatives.

President Irfaan Ali recently met with cane farmers on the Corentyne. Noting that follow-up engagements have since taken place, Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha said, “I have met with the cane farmers, as well as the cooperatives and the Chief Cooperative Officer, who is working to revitalise and reorganise them.”

On the ground at the Skeldon Estate, efforts continue with sugar cultivation. “We are continuing planting on the 5,000 hectares. I am hoping by the end of this year and the first quarter of next year, we can have enough cane here, plus the private cane farmers with about 12,000 acres of land, we are working with them aggressively to restart their cultivation,” he explained.

Mustapha also indicated that discussions are underway with private investors to reintroduce sugar processing in the Upper Corentyne Area. “We are also working with two private developers to look at a small sugar factory,” he confirmed.

Additionally, interest is growing from investors as he stressed that two persons have already indicated their interest, while early next month, a group from the Dominican Republic will visit Guyana to look at the availability of land “so they will start the cultivation of coffee and cocoa and other crops,” Mustapha said.

Following instructions from President Ali during the recent engagement with cane farmers at Skeldon, Mustapha emphasised the ministry’s proactive stance. “We will be meeting very regularly; we have a committee with the ministry, the farmers group up here, and from time to time we will bring in different stakeholders who will help to ensure” the documentation and work is carried out.

Looking ahead, Mustapha outlined ambitious plans to open up 100,000 acres of new agricultural land. “We want to diversify rapidly, we have to expand the traditional crops, so we will see an increase in rice cultivation this year. We might increase rice production from 725,000 tonnes last year to 825,000 tonnes this year, almost a hundred thousand tonnes increase.”

Aquaculture also continues to be a major focus of the government’s strategy. “We have the prawns project every effective, we have over 56 cages around the various interior locations, all those cages will be stocked with fingerlings shortly, they have already started to do it and within another two – three weeks, the fisheries department, all the cages will have fingerlings and the villages will be monitoring it and work with our fisheries department.”

On the crop side, Guyana is progressing towards self-sufficiency in key commodities as he revealed that corn has started to be loaded on ships to move to other Caribbean countries. “We are now producing corn and soya on a large scale, we are hoping by the mid of next year we can be self-sufficient…”

In conclusion, Mustapha said the government’s aggressive agricultural agenda is driving “massive transformation” across the country.