Guyana has started exporting corn and soya to Barbados, Minister of Agriculture Zulfikar Mustapha has announced. Speaking at the Guyana School of Agriculture’s graduation ceremony on Tuesday, Mustapha said Guyana previously spent about US$40 million annually importing corn and soya, but increased domestic production has now positioned the country to supply regional markets.
“Five years ago, Guyana normally imports approximately US$40 million annually in corn and soya. Today, we started to export corn and soya to Barbados,” the minister said.
The agriculture minister also revealed that the country is moving towards self-sufficiency in producing the crops needed for its livestock industry. Corn and soya are essential crops used in both human food production and livestock feed.
“We are now producing it in large quantities, and I am hoping by the end of this year, early next year, Guyana will be self-sufficient in producing all its corn and soya for the livestock industry,” Mustapha said.
The minister also highlighted progress in reducing the country’s dependence on imported high-value crops. According to Mustapha, in 2022, Guyana imported approximately $2.6 billion worth of high-value crops, but that figure has since declined significantly, with imports reduced by almost 90 per cent.
“Today, we have reduced that tremendously. Almost 90 per cent of that has been reduced. We are growing our own crops across the country,” he said.
The expansion of local agricultural production forms part of the country’s broader efforts to reduce food imports, strengthen food security and create new opportunities for farmers and agriculture businesses.
Source: NEW ROOMS SITE
