–David Fernandes says Guyana is ‘lucky’ to be the only country that is self-sufficient in food production
-Highlights govt’s efforts to diversify economy

GUYANA’s ambitious goal of agricultural self-sufficiency and value-added production is gaining traction as over US$10 million has been invested in the flagship corn and soya beans project, which is transforming the country into a regional powerhouse.
This was disclosed by the Lead Director and Chairman of the project, David Fernandes, during his appearance on the Starting Point Podcast last week.
The corn and soya beans production is being undertaken by a group of mainly local investors under the name “Tacama Gold”. The investors are the owners of Guyana Stock Feed Limited, Royal Chicken, Edun Farms, SBM Wood, Dubulay Ranch and Bounty Farm Limited, along with the Brazilian-owned N F Agriculture. Fernandes is also the Managing Director of Bounty Farm Ltd.
During the discussion, Fernandes highlighted that this project, among other initiatives – which are being pushed by the government – signals a strategic shift towards economic diversification and sustainable development, even as the burgeoning oil and gas sector dominates headlines.
Guyana’s future extends well beyond oil and gas, as in August, it was reported locally harvested soybeans were transported by vessel, for the first time, from the Tacama drying and storage facility, located approximately 90 miles up the Berbice River, to a processing mill where it was then converted into poultry feed.

President Irfaan Ali announced the development and highlighted the achievement as a landmark moment, given the fact that the project commenced in 2021.
Guyana is expected to achieve self-sufficiency in the production of all livestock feed, resulting in a decreased reliance on imports.
This progress is evident as 12,000 acres of corn and soya were produced in 2024. To become self-sufficient, the government invested significantly in the Tacama, Savannah area [along the Berbice River], where more than 40 kilometres of road have been constructed.
While initially there was not much optimism about being able to tackle the grain industry, Fernandes said, “As Richard Branson always says, ‘If someone gives you an opportunity, say yes, and then try to figure it out, because the opportunity doesn’t come again,’ because if you say no, he’ll give someone else the opportunity.”
While those companies leading the project are competitors, the objective, as highlighted by Fernandes, is to make Guyana grow.
“So, as the Lead Director on this project, it is a privilege for me to be a part of it,” he said, while explaining that initially, the companies worked on their own with their individual resources, but then came together to secure a loan from a commercial bank at a favourable rate.
Additionally, while over 7,500 acres of soya and corn are under cultivation in Tacama, Berbice River, some will be harvested now, and the remaining in March 2026.
“We have the capacity on our farm to do about 15,000 acres, and we will be greater than 50 per cent of that by 2026. By 2027, we will probably be planting the full land given to us,” he stated.
The goal is to become self-reliant and self-sufficient with the best quality product while simultaneously saving on resources, providing employment and all elements that are necessary to work in harmony with the environment.
On that note, he noted that the project is environmentally responsible as they are using savannah lands and not forest lands.
“We’re not the only company doing this, so I’m very excited that others will follow us, and some have already, and together, we’ll do it. You know, where we can become, at least in the region, an exporter of grain to the Caribbean within a very short time,” he further stated.

BEYOND OIL AND GAS
The government is looking far beyond oil and gas, Fernandes stated, pointing to the positive trajectory of the non-oil sectors.
“I wouldn’t say the government’s focus is solely on oil and gas. Oil and Gas gives us the opportunity to do everything else…But I really think that the government is thinking about multiple things, or having to think about multiple things all at once; so infrastructure development, security, education, health, and then also how to navigate, in an agricultural sense, the world market situations that affect us both positively and negatively from time to time,” he said.
Amidst global challenges, he lauded the government’s ability to keep the country stable, even tracing the administration’s competency to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The government did a great job of not stopping imports to help service and support these agricultural entities. But we, we as a country, should realise that we are kind of lucky in our ability to provide food for ourselves,” he said.