Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha faced intense questioning from Opposition members in the Committee of Supply on Tuesday regarding the Guyana Sugar Corporation’s (GuySuCo) mechanisation efforts and investigations into the Guyana Marketing Corporation (GMC) as the National Assembly reviewed the 2026 budget estimates.
Responding to concerns about how mechanisation would impact employment at GuySuCo, Mustapha assured that there would be no layoffs. He emphasized that the corporation is currently dealing with labor shortages and that any changes to staffing would be managed through attrition. He explained that workers would be repositioned through training and new opportunities, supported by established training pathways including GuySuCo’s training school and programs from the Ministry of Labour aimed at preparing workers for heavy-duty machinery operations and other roles.
The conversation then shifted to the GMC and ongoing probes related to alleged irregularities in the sale of items like eggs. When pressed for updates, Mustapha stated that the ministry had not yet received a report on this matter and that it remains with the Auditor General’s office. Despite media reports indicating that an audit had been completed, Mustapha asserted he had not received any findings in his capacity as minister, nor had GMC management.
Tensions rose when an Opposition member questioned the operational status of several agro-processing facilities, suggesting that some seemed to be closed. Mustapha rebuffed the claim, describing it as misleading and citing output figures for processed items from functioning facilities, including pepper sauce and seasonings. The committee chair urged members to avoid making definitive statements without proper evidence.
Mustapha reiterated that the government is committed to advancing agro-processing, highlighting budgeted support for operations and expansion efforts.
When discussing rice production projections, Mustapha defended the government’s forecasts by emphasizing recent increases in yields due to the introduction of new rice varieties and improvements in irrigation systems and fertilization practices. He expressed ambitions that extend beyond current projections, aiming for even greater production in the future.
The committee’s discussions encompassed various funding allocations related to agriculture, drainage, and irrigation works. Mustapha noted a shift toward procuring mobile pumps to mitigate vulnerabilities associated with fixed pump stations as part of long-term planning and resource management.
