-says producers’ recommendations will help guide policies, programmes to boost food security efforts

MINISTER of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha, has called for greater collaboration between farmers and the government in shaping the future of Guyana’s agricultural sector.

This call was made on Monday at the Farmers’ Conference 2026, which brought together producers, agricultural stakeholders, and regional leaders to discuss the sector’s development and their role in strengthening food security.

Hosted under the theme “Innovate, Nourish, Grow: Building a Strong and Sustainable Guyana,” the conference formed part of Agriculture Month 2026 and provided a platform for farmers to share their experiences, identify challenges and contribute recommendations towards a national action plan for agriculture.

Minister Mustapha said the conference was established following concerns raised by farmers about the absence of a national forum where they could meet, exchange ideas and have a direct voice in decisions affecting their livelihoods.

Delivering the opening address, Mustapha was keen to emphasise that farmers remain at the centre for Guyana’s development.

Speaking directly to them, he noted that agriculture extends beyond the planting, harvesting and production of food, but also significantly impacts livelihoods, employment, and opportunities for future generations. “Agriculture is not simply about what we plant, harvest, or produce. It is about families, livelihoods, jobs, and the future we are building for our country,” the minister said. He acknowledged the numerous challenges that come with farming, including the long working days, difficult conditions and sacrifices producers make to sustain their operations.

Despite these challenges, he said farmers have continued to play a major role in the country’s development and will continue to get government’s attention and support

“To every farmer here this morning, I want to express our appreciation for the work you continue to do. We know farming is not a simple undertaking. It takes patience, dedication, and sacrifice,” Mustapha said.

Moreover, the minister noted that the conference was a flagship activity of Agriculture Month and reflected the government’s commitment to developing a modern, resilient, and globally competitive agriculture sector. He said that the event was designed to go beyond the usual discussions surrounding agricultural development by giving farmers an opportunity to contribute directly to the policies and programmes intended to support them. Mustapha explained that the idea for the conference emerged during one of his outreach engagements, when farmers raised concerns about the lack of a national platform where they could meet and exchange ideas. He said the concern remained with him and eventually led to the establishment of the conference, which he described as an initiative created in response to farmers’ calls for greater engagement.

“This inaugural Farmers Conference was created because we listened. We created it because your voice matters. We created it because government alone cannot transform agriculture,” Mustapha said.

He added that while the government had established its development vision through its manifesto, the National Development Strategy and the Low-Carbon Development Strategy, the success of those frameworks depended on the experience and practical knowledge of people working throughout the agricultural sector.

According to the minister, farmers must have a direct role in the implementation, refinement and execution of policies affecting their livelihoods, as their experiences provide an important understanding of the realities of agricultural production.

SHAPING AGRICULTURAL TRANSFORMATION

He said the conference was intended to help shape the next phase of Guyana’s agricultural transformation by ensuring that the people working in the sector could contribute to the decisions being made. “As a government, we have set our vision through our manifesto, the National Development Strategy and the Low-Carbon Development Strategy. Those documents provide the framework, but any strategy’s success depends on the wisdom, experience, and practical knowledge of those working the land, tending the livestock, fishing our waters, and building agribusinesses across Guyana. This is why this conference is different,” he said.

As part of the conference, participants were assigned to thematic breakout groups according to their farming activities and areas of expertise. The sessions were designed to encourage dialogue among farmers, with technical officers from the Ministry of Agriculture assisting the discussions.

Mustapha said the objective was to gather ideas, innovations, experiences, and recommendations that could help guide the sector’s development. “I therefore encourage all participants to participate fully in these discussions. This is not a forum for personal requests or individual matters. Those channels already exist and remain open to you,” he said, adding, “Today is about something bigger. Today is about contributing to a national action plan. Today is about helping to shape the policies and programmes that will help support thousands of farmers, create opportunities for future generations, and strengthen Guyana’s role as a leader in regional food security.”

The minister noted that the gathering included representatives of large-scale enterprises, emerging entrepreneurs, farming organisations, and cooperatives, many of whom possessed specialised knowledge developed over decades of experience.

He said bringing these groups together created opportunities for participants to learn from one another, strengthen relationships, and identify ways to advance agricultural development.

Mustapha also underscored the importance of recognising the contribution of women and young people to the sector, noting that their participation was important to ensuring agriculture remained an area of opportunity for future generations.

“Today’s gathering is also special, as we are observing International Year of the Woman Farmer. And at this moment, I want to ask the women farmers in our audience to stand. On behalf of the Ministry of Agriculture, I want to extend our deepest appreciation to you and all other women whose knowledge, labour and enterprise sustain our food system and advance the wellbeing of families across Guyana,” he said.

The conference also provided an opportunity to recognise President Dr Irfaan Ali’s contribution to regional agricultural development.

Mustapha noted that the President’s work in food security, climate resilience and agricultural transformation has received regional and international recognition. In 2023, President Ali received an award from the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture for his contribution to food security and sustainable development. He was also more recently honoured with the Caribbean Global Leader Award for his contribution to regional development and co-operation.

Mustapha said the recognition reflected the President’s focus on advancing agriculture and food security in Guyana and across the Caribbean. He urged farmers to continue working together and contributing to the development of the sector, emphasising that their participation would remain essential to its future. “Your work is important to Guyana,” the Minister told farmers, encouraging them to continue approaching the future with confidence and determination. “Together, let us innovate, nourish and grow,” he said.