Govt pushes ambitious agro-investment agenda as Agriculture Month opens
As Guyana launched Agriculture Month 2025 under the theme “Transforming Livelihoods through Agri-Food Systems,” Minister within the Ministry of Agriculture, Vickash Ramkissoon, reaffirmed government’s commitment to reshaping the sector into a resilient, modern and globally competitive industry.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Ramkissoon reminded that agriculture has always been the backbone of Guyana’s economy. He noted that “rice and sugar have traditionally been two important industries in our economy, providing employment and serving as the main source of our foreign currency earnings.” Alongside those staples, he pointed to the long-standing roles of cash crops, fishing, and livestock in sustaining the nation’s food security.
The Minister stressed that over the last five years, under the leadership of President Irfaan Ali and Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha, the government has “invested heavily in modernising the sector with improved technologies, modern infrastructure and value-added initiatives.” He highlighted that this support was complemented by direct interventions such as subsidies, grants, fertiliser distribution, and drainage and irrigation assistance. These, he explained, were aimed at strengthening resilience, boosting productivity, and ensuring greater efficiency within the agri-food system.
According to Ramkissoon, a resilient sector must not only rely on production but also focus on sustainable practices, expanded market access, and ongoing capacity development. “With these pillars in mind,” he said, “we will be able not just to feed our nation and make our sector globally competitive, but also position Guyana as a prominent regional exporter of high-quality food products.”
Guyana, he continued, remains firmly aligned with the CARICOM agenda to reduce the region’s massive food import bill. He explained that the government has mapped out an ambitious agricultural development and agro-investment plan for the next five years, one that hinges on system improvements and productivity growth.
The Minister closed by assuring that these initiatives will ensure Guyana remains not only food-secure but also firmly established as a leader in regional food production and export.
