-producers, agro-processors highlight Farmers’ Market, government support, financing through Guyana Development Bank

GUYANA’S farmers and agro-processors are welcoming opportunities created by the Farmers’ Market, praising the continued collaboration with government while also looking forward to expanded operations through the recently opened Guyana Development Bank.

Vendors at the Ministry of Agriculture’s event held on Monday at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, welcomed the chance to sell their products directly to consumers, voice their opinions and explore financing and growth opportunities.

The market was held alongside the Farmers’ Conference 2026, hosted under the theme “Innovate, Nourish, Grow: Building a Strong and Sustainable Guyana.” The event celebrated the growth of Guyana’s agricultural sector and highlighted the vital role farmers play in strengthening food security and national development.

While speaking to the Guyana Chronicle, many participants noted that through the Farmers’ Market, continued collaboration with the government and more opportunities will be made possible through the Guyana Development Bank.

Among the numerous farmers who participated in the initiative was Christopher Bhuphan. Coming from the community of Parika in Region Three, Bhuphan cultivates a wide variety of crops, including cassava, sweet potato, eddoes, banana, orange, tangerine, grapefruit, and avocado.

He said the initiative, which he attended at the encouragement of the ministry, and fellow farmers, provides vendors with an opportunity to gain better prices for their produce, while encouraging them to continue investing in their farms.

“I came out today because farmers are getting better prices. It is a benefit for us and for the people that come and buy. Also, as farmers, we can motivate ourselves more on the farm,” he said.

Moreover, Bhuphan participated in the discussions that saw farmers sharing their experiences, identifying challenges, and making recommendations for a national action plan for agriculture. This, he emphasised, reinforced collaboration. Now he is looking forward to continued government support, including the hosting of more farmers’ markets.

Justin Bacchus, an eddoe farmer from the community of Kuru Kuru, also welcomed the initiative, crediting government for its support, particularly the Ministry of Agriculture which helped to improve his farming operation.

He pointed to drainage works and road improvements in his community as developments that had helped his business become more established. “I support the government because they support me a lot. They have helped me out a great deal in farming, especially drainage in Kuru Kuru. And I feel so happy and proud now that my business could establish and be more flourishing,” he said.

Bacchus said he was pleased to sell eddoes at the market for about $100, explaining that he viewed the initiative as an opportunity to give back to consumers. “Whether you lose or not, people must feel proud of what you do at this market, to get things cheap, rather than going to the market,” he said. However, he noted that farming costs remained a challenge, particularly the expense of obtaining workers and purchasing supplies. Bacchus said he would consider accessing financing through the Guyana Development Bank to help manage these costs and stabilise his business.

Kareshme Shewrat of Mahaica said the opportunity to participate in the Farmers Market allowed her to reconnect with farming and meet other producers after spending some time away from the sector.

A vendor of a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, Shewrat explained that recent weather conditions have affected her ability to continue farming, prompting her to focus on the products she could still produce while sourcing other items. “We had a rainy period and then we get back into the sun, and it becomes a little bit too much for me to deal with the weather. So, what I do? I buy and I resell,” she said.

Shewrat welcomed the financing opportunities for small businesses through the Guyana Development Bank, noting that access to capital is often a major obstacle for people seeking to establish their own ventures. “Sometimes many people just do not have the capital. They may want to have a start, they may want to start something of their own, and they may not have that cash, the capital. So, I see the Guyana Development Bank as a very good opportunity,” he said.

Roy Doodnauth, who farms vegetables and cash crops in Hopetown, said the market was beneficial to both producers and consumers because farmers could earn from their produce while shoppers could purchase items at lower prices. “I find it really good, because the farmers come and sell, we make something more, and those who buy just gain. So, both parties gain. We get something more from the produce, and those who buy, they get it for less.”

Doodnauth, who has been farming since childhood, also welcomed plans to extend the initiative to other communities, saying farmers in different areas should be given similar opportunities to participate. He said expanding the markets would allow more producers to benefit from the initiative and give consumers elsewhere access to the same opportunities.

Meanwhile, Tilak Persaud, a farmer and agro-processor from Timehri, used the market to sell fruits and vegetables. He said most of the produce he sold was grown on his own farm and that participating in the event had been a positive experience, particularly because it allowed him to interact directly with customers beyond the wholesale consumers many farmers were accustomed to selling.

“As a farmer, we are mostly accustomed to selling in large quantities, but here we are being exposed to selling to a different variety of people. It is a really good experience … you meet new faces, new people at the end of the day, and interact with them.” he said. While he was still considering his options, Persaud said financing from the Guyana Development Bank was an opportunity he would be willing to explore. “For sure, we will take advantage of those opportunities that the government does provide,” he said.

Dawn Edwards-Dickson, owner and founder of Dick’s Seasoning Products, said her business has been operating for a little over three years and has been seeing consistent growth. She said the event allowed producers to offer samples, make sales, and connect with existing and potential customers.

Edwards-Dickson also welcomed the events discussions about improving links among farmers, agro-processors, and retailers, noting that better coordination could help address gaps in the supply chain.

“It was also a good idea to be hearing from the farmers and the agro-processors about their concerns and their ideas of how we can make the system better, how we can tie agro-processors and retailers and farmers together, bringing a better relationship between the two and kind of cementing things,” she said.