Guyana is continuing to play a leading role in the Caribbean’s efforts to strengthen food production and food security, with the Minister within the Ministry of Agriculture, Vickash Ramkissoon, presenting the latest report of the Special Ministerial Task Force on Food Production and Food Security at the 127th Special Meeting of COTED. The report is being presented on behalf of the Chairman of the Task Force, Guyana’s Minister of Agriculture, the Honourable Zulfikar Mustapha, and covers the period January to June 2026.

The report shows that Member States which submitted production data recorded approximately 1.4 million tonnes of agricultural output during the period, representing about 42.3 per cent of their targets for the full year. Guyana recorded the largest production volume among the reporting Member States, with 792,012 tonnes, representing 42 per cent of its 2026 target.

There was also growth in agricultural trade across the Region. Agricultural exports from selected Member States increased from US$1.93 billion in 2023 to US$2.04 billion in 2024, with Guyana’s exports rising from US$375.4 million to US$402.3 million. Intra-regional agricultural exports also increased, moving from US$748.4 million in 2023 to US$870.3 million in 2024. Guyana’s intra-regional exports rose from US$89.8 million to US$120.1 million.

The figures point to progress, but the report also makes clear that the Region has more work to do to achieve its target of reducing extra-regional food imports by 25 per cent. Among the challenges identified are climate-related risks, disruptions to shipping and supply chains, rising input and transportation costs, and shortages of labour and technical skills.

Several regional initiatives are also being advanced to support the food security agenda, including the Regional Electronic Agricultural Market Information System, a regional strategy for planting material and genetic resources, and a proposed US$1.2 million initiative with the Republic of Korea focused on climate resilience, ocean governance and fisheries modernisation.

Minister Mustapha has played an important role in keeping food production and food security high on the CARICOM agenda in his capacity as Chairman of the Special Ministerial Task Force. Through his chairmanship, Guyana has continued to advocate for stronger regional production, greater intra-regional trade and practical measures to reduce the Caribbean’s dependence on imported food.

The presentation at COTED comes as Member States continue to assess progress under the CARICOM Vision 25 by 2025+5 initiative and consider the measures needed to accelerate food production and strengthen food security across the Region.