Minister of Agriculture Zulfikar Mustapha has announced that the government will soon engage farmers to explore possible solutions in response to a sharp rise in fertiliser prices driven by ongoing global developments.
Speaking to farmers at Wakenaam Island, Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) on Wednesday, Minister Mustapha acknowledged the significant financial burden the price increase has placed on the agricultural sector.
“Only last crop, or earlier this year, we bought fertiliser for as low as $6,000 a bag. Fertiliser has gone up now to about $12,000,” he said, adding that no firm decisions have yet been made on how to address the situation.
He indicated that consultations with farmers would begin shortly, expressing hope that measures similar to those previously implemented could be put in place. Last year, farmers benefitted from a $2 billion fertiliser subsidy initiative as part of the government’s support for the agriculture sector.
Beyond the immediate pricing crisis, Minister Mustapha used the occasion to urge farmers to embrace modern agricultural innovations, cautioning that old practices can no longer sustain the industry.
“We can’t continue to do things how we used to do it ten and fifteen years ago,” he said.
He drew particular attention to the nano-fertiliser launched in October 2025, expressing disappointment that many farmers have yet to adopt it despite its advantages. The Ministry of Agriculture has noted that the nano-fertiliser supplies approximately 80 percent of the nutrients needed by crops, compared to 35 percent achieved with conventional fertilisers, while also minimising environmental impacts.
Mustapha explained that the nano-fertiliser is not a replacement for traditional fertiliser but can be used alongside it, allowing farmers to reduce their urea usage while maintaining or improving yields. He noted that the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) is subsidising the nano-fertiliser and urged farmers to take advantage of the measure.
