The National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) has received a fleet of vehicles valued at $60 million to strengthen its operations and support agricultural production.

Minister of Agriculture Zulfikar Mustapha handed over 12 motorcycles, six all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and five pickups on Tuesday.

He said the investment will help equip the institute to provide the guidance needed as the country works to strengthen food security.

“We [government] are ensuring that NAREI can be equipped to provide the necessary guidance to us because, you know, food security is important,” the minister said.

Minister Mustapha said the effort is supported by President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali and formed part of the government’s ambition to make Guyana a leading food producer in the Caribbean.

“We want Guyana to be the premier food producer in CARICOM. We are moving there very aggressively, but we have to have the facilities,” he said.

The minister urged staff to use the vehicles efficiently and take proper care of them, warning that misuse could undermine their purpose.

To this end, he instructed NAREI’s CEO to ensure the fleet is being effectively used to support the institute’s work.

Moreover, the minister pointed to the increase in the agriculture budget from $18 billion to $113 billion this year.

He said the investment places greater responsibility on staff to deliver on the government’s policies.

In addition, the agriculture minister turned his attention to the food hub being developed at Yarrowkabra and efforts to expand production across several areas of agriculture.

Although the sector recorded a decline in production during the first half of the year, he expressed confidence that it will recover by year-end.