President Ali engages Skeldon farmers on revival of abandoned lands
President Irfaan Ali on Wednesday met with cane and rice farmers in Skeldon, Berbice, where discussions focused on reviving thousands of acres of abandoned farmland and tackling long-standing concerns affecting the agriculture sector.
During the meeting, held at the Skeldon Estate and attended by several Cabinet Ministers, the Head of State said that between 8,000 and 12,000 acres could be placed back into productive use for crops such as sugarcane, citrus, and coconuts. He stressed that government investments in drainage, irrigation and infrastructure must be tied directly to production.
“We can’t have people holding on to land while government is making heavy investments in drainage, irrigation and infrastructure. All of this must be tied to production and productivity. That is how we expand business opportunities, create jobs and grow the economy,” the President told the gathering.
Ali outlined a multi-crop approach that allows sugarcane to co-exist with citrus and other cash crops, supported by modern technology and market-driven planning. He disclosed ongoing talks with investors from the Dominican Republic and Brazil’s Roraima State to provide expertise and technology transfer.
Soil testing is expected to begin in the coming days to determine the best crops for specific tracts of land. The President also revealed that a dedicated website is being developed to provide farmers and investors with real-time data.
Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL) has already expressed interest in establishing a juice processing plant at Skeldon. According to Ali, the facility could be operational within eight to 12 months once farmers commit to large-scale citrus cultivation. “We want this to be science-driven, market-driven and profitable. Whatever we do must make sense in the long term,” he said.
Several farmers expressed readiness to restart production. Rabindranath Prasad said he was prepared to invest in a small sugar factory on his 4,000 acres, with financing already secured. “We are ready to start tomorrow. The factory is already negotiated, and we just need your blessing,” he told the President.
Other farmers noted their focus on citrus. One farmer shared that 200 acres of Valencia oranges are already under cultivation, with another 600 acres ready for planting. Meanwhile, farmer Jyoti Singh voiced concerns about privately-owned mills and urged that any new mill be state-operated to prevent fragmentation of the industry.
Ali assured that both private and state-led initiatives would be supported, once viable and tied to production. He announced the creation of a representative group comprising cane farmers, government officials, investors and financial institutions to chart the way forward. “This is about commitment. We can’t have land left idle. Everyone here must be serious about farming. If we get that commitment, the government will provide the infrastructure and incentives needed for success,” he said.
Farmers also raised concerns about unfair grading of their produce, the need for proper testing capacity, and silted canals in Black Bush Polder. The President said he will instruct the Minister of Agriculture to meet with farmers across the country and provide a full report within two weeks.
The meeting was attended by Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha, Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh, Tourism Minister Susan Rodrigues, Public Service Minister Sonia Parag, regional leaders, and Members of Parliament.
