The government of Guyana has distributed approximately $251 million in subsidies to rice farmers in the Pomeroon–Supenaam region, part of a comprehensive initiative to support growers facing falling global prices and rising production costs. This announcement was made by Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha during a recent subsidy distribution event on the Essequibo Coast.
Minister Mustapha revealed that the government has injected a total of G$4.1 billion into the rice sector for the first and second crops of 2025, providing direct financial assistance to farmers. “This government has a proud record of delivering on every promise made to the people of this country,” Mustapha stated, emphasizing the importance of the cash assistance in ensuring the viability of producers amid challenging international market conditions.
The minister noted that Region Two has approximately 32,000 acres available for rice cultivation, with about 30,000 acres already planted. The government aims to bring all available lands under cultivation while exploring new agricultural opportunities.
As part of efforts to lower production costs, Mustapha announced plans to upgrade key infrastructure, including the rehabilitation of a seed facility on the Essequibo Coast and the construction of a new fertilizer plant and storage facility for paddy. “Very soon, Guyana will have its own fertilizer plant, which will reduce the cost of production,” he affirmed.
Looking towards the future, the government plans to establish a rice “cluster” in the region, where machinery will be provided to groups of farmers to alleviate reliance on expensive private rentals. “We want to identify areas with a high concentration of rice farmers and purchase machinery, so they do not have to rent equipment at high costs,” he explained.
The government is also expanding Guyana’s rice exports, including negotiations with Mexico, while encouraging farmers to pursue value-added production through agro-processing. “We have to incorporate and utilize rice for value-added products,” Mustapha concluded, highlighting the strategic importance of expanding the rice sector’s contribution to the economy.
