GEORGETOWN, Guyana, CMC—President Dr. Irfaan Ali is optimistic about Guyana’s agricultural future. He predicts that by the end of 2027, the country will save a substantial US$60 million on the importation of corn, soya, and shrimp—the three commodities for which production is being significantly increased.
“In three product areas alone, by the time we get up to 2027, we will be saving more than US$60 million that we would have used for the importation of key products,” Ali said as he addressed the addressing the Guyana Marketing Corporation’s annual Awards and Dinner ceremony.
President Ali reaffirmed the government’s commitment to the agricultural sector. He stated that the government has made significant investments to ensure that local products meet high quality and standard requirements, thereby boosting consumer confidence.
“The corn and soya project is well on its way to achieving its self-sufficiency by the end of next year and by the end of 2027 to make an essential dent into the regional market.
“In the swamp shrimp industry, we are now producing 700 to 800 percent more swamp shrimp than we were producing a year and a half ago, but we are still exporting it in bulk to the diaspora.”
And to complement this, he said value can be added to the products by improving packaging and processing.
“As we build out the aquaculture, the prawn’s production, and all of this, processing becomes an important part of what we do.”
The President also issued a call to action for agroprocessors. He encouraged them to take advantage of the agro-processing facilities established nationwide. By doing so, they can enhance their products and overcome major challenges such as transportation and logistics, thereby contributing to the growth of the local economy.
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