Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha has announced that nearly eight tunnel-ventilated poultry pens, each capable of housing approximately 40,000 birds, are expected to be fully operational within weeks as the government moves to significantly boost local poultry production.
Speaking at the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association’s (GMSA) Annual General Meeting at Herdmanston Lodge on Friday, Minister Mustapha said the government has been working closely with young entrepreneurs to expand capacity within the sector, with the large-scale projects expected to come on stream by the end of June.
“This additional production will significantly increase the amount of poultry entering our system,” he said.
The Minister acknowledged ongoing concerns about the importation of poultry meat amid rising local demand, but emphasised that the government’s targeted interventions are designed to address these challenges sustainably. The expansion is aimed at strengthening food security and reducing reliance on imports, and is backed by recent indications from President Dr. Irfaan Ali of Guyana’s readiness to meet regional demand in livestock and feeding supply chains.
Mustapha urged stakeholders, including the GMSA, to implement projects that expand local production capacity, expressing confidence that the combined efforts of government and the private sector can meet national demand.
“With these interventions, we can work alongside the GMSA to implement initiatives like these and ensure that we meet national demand,” he said.
The expansion forms part of a broader strategy to modernise agriculture, empower young farmers and build resilience within Guyana’s food production systems.
