Guyana boosts food production by nearly 28% amid CARICOM import reduction push
Key Points(5)
- Guyana has increased production of key agricultural commodities by nearly 28% over five years as the country works to help the Caribbean Community reduce its dependence on imported food, Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha said Tuesday.
- Production across 15 CARICOM priority commodities increased from 1.41 million tonnes in 2020 to 1.81 million tonnes in 2025, representing an increase of 394,698 tonnes, or 27.9%.
- Mustapha said the expansion has helped Guyana remain on course to support CARICOM's goal of reducing the region's food import bill by 25% by 2030.
- “Guyana has emerged as the leading CARICOM country in advancing the agri-food system and, at the same time, a leading voice in prioritising food security,” Mustapha said in an interview with the Department of Public Information.
- The regional initiative grew out of discussions among CARICOM leaders as member states sought to increase agricultural production and reduce the Caribbean's heavy reliance on imported food.
Guyana has increased production of key agricultural commodities by nearly 28% over five years as the country works to help the Caribbean Community reduce its dependence on imported food, Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha said Tuesday.
Production across 15 CARICOM priority commodities increased from 1.41 million tonnes in 2020 to 1.81 million tonnes in 2025, representing an increase of 394,698 tonnes, or 27.9%.
Mustapha said the expansion has helped Guyana remain on course to support CARICOM's goal of reducing the region's food import bill by 25% by 2030.
“Guyana has emerged as the leading CARICOM country in advancing the agri-food system and, at the same time, a leading voice in prioritising food security,” Mustapha said in an interview with the Department of Public Information.
The regional initiative grew out of discussions among CARICOM leaders as member states sought to increase agricultural production and reduce the Caribbean's heavy reliance on imported food.
Mustapha said Guyana recorded what he described as a 77% success rate when progress toward the target was assessed in 2025.
He attributed the gains to increased agricultural production, greater investment and cooperation among CARICOM member states.
“Many countries in the Caribbean, CARICOM, now are requiring our strategy, our help, our expertise,” Mustapha said, noting that Guyana has also been providing technical assistance to other countries seeking to expand agricultural production.
Guyana has recorded growth in several areas, including corn, coconut and soybean production. Soybean cultivation has also been expanded to support the country's animal feed industry.
Livestock production increased by 12.5% between 2020 and 2025, while poultry production rose 11.5%, beef 11.7%, pork 6% and egg production 12.4%.
The government is now seeking to expand onion production, with approximately 300 acres expected to be cultivated in Region Nine during the current crop.
Mustapha said the goal is to satisfy more of Guyana's domestic demand while eventually increasing agricultural exports to other Caribbean countries.
“We are not only doing agro-processing to sell locally,” he said. “Our agro-processing products are being sold in different parts of the Caribbean.”
The minister acknowledged that hurricanes and other natural disasters have disrupted agricultural production in several Caribbean countries and slowed regional progress.
However, he said he remains optimistic that CARICOM can achieve the 25% reduction in its food import bill by 2030 as member states continue expanding their agricultural sectors.
