FOR too long, the story of the Guyanese farmer has been one of hard work with minimal reward. Recent comments from Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha during a government outreach at Hague Village, Region Three, highlight the ongoing exploitation of farmers by middlemen.
The minister’s example – a farmer selling peppers for $100 only to see them resold for $500 – reflects a daily challenge faced by those who support our food security. The difference is clear. While farmers take on the risks of weather changes, pests, and labour costs, middlemen often take most of the profits with much less effort. However, the government’s stronger focus on value-added agriculture and agro-processing could help change this unfair system.
Minister Mustapha’s statement that Region Three and other regions will work to reduce this issue through value-added production is both timely and strategic. By turning raw produce into packaged goods – such as pepper sauces, jams, or dried seasonings — farmers can avoid the pressure to sell perishable items at low prices. Agro-processing increases shelf life, widens market opportunities, and, importantly, keeps the profits with the producers.
This initiative is part of a wider effort to transform Region Three into a hub of industry and economy. The upcoming gas-to-energy project and the new Demerara River Bridge will provide the affordable energy and logistics needed for modern processing facilities. The promise to enhance this area over the next five years indicates a real policy change rather than a short-term solution.
In addition, recent efforts to secure regional markets, including partnerships to place Guyanese agro-products on shelves throughout the Caribbean, show that demand is there. If our farmers can shift from just growing crops to processing them, they will not only feed the nation but also drive an export boom. The time has come to end the era of middlemen exploiting farmers. Farmers must stop underselling themselves by just selling raw products. The government’s commitment to developing an agro-processing sector is not just an economic strategy. It is a moral necessity to restore dignity and fair payment to those who feed us.