
Vice President Dr Bharrat Jagdeo has defended President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali’s recent comments about the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo), describing the state-owned entity as central to a larger national plan to modernize agriculture, create jobs and improve food security.
Speaking at a press conference on Thursday at Freedom House, Dr Jagdeo said the President’s remarks at the 77th Enmore Martyrs commemoration had been misunderstood and misrepresented. He said GuySuCo is being repositioned not simply as a sugar producer but as a driver of rural transformation and crop diversification.
“Our strategy isn’t just about rice anymore,” Jagdeo explained. “We are looking at wide-scale crop diversification that brings income to more people, especially in rural areas.”
He pointed to new and expanded initiatives involving crops like turmeric, nutmeg, coffee, cocoa, and cassava. Cassava production alone reached 55 million pounds last year, he noted. Roses and shrimp farming are also among the ventures being supported for both local and export markets.
“In every one of these sectors, we’re seeing more people getting employed and earning income,” he told reporters.
Jagdeo revealed that plans are underway to introduce hemp cultivation and even small-scale cigar production. Infrastructure for these projects, including land preparation, has already begun. One major initiative will see 2,000 acres at Skeldon—part of GuySuCo’s 26,000 acres—distributed among 1,000 farmers.
In total, the government is targeting over 60,000 acres in the Skeldon-Crabwood Creek area for a new agro-industrial complex. A major road connecting Crabwood Creek to Orealla is already under construction to support this development.
A similar project will open up another 55,000 acres in Region Five, where new irrigation systems will enable more small farmers to grow crops and rear livestock. According to Jagdeo, these initiatives will not only replace lost jobs from sugar but create new, more sustainable ones.
“That’s what the President was talking about,” he said. “Using GuySuCo’s resources to create new opportunities for workers and farmers.”
One of the flagship projects under this vision is a $6 billion industrial estate at the former Enmore sugar factory site. It is expected to employ 4,000 people once completed. Jagdeo said this, along with other developments, will provide alternative employment to former sugar workers, particularly in East Coast communities that were historically dependent on the industry.
He also addressed criticisms that the President’s comments about GuySuCo ignored the Corporation’s legacy and workforce. “They’re complaining about the President’s speech without understanding the context,” he said. “What we’re building now isn’t traditional agriculture. We’re talking about innovation, product development, and new markets.”
Guyana was recently recognized by a study in Nature Food as the only country out of 186 that is fully self-sufficient in food production across seven key food categories. Still, Jagdeo acknowledged that rising incomes have increased the demand for imported foods.
To keep pace, the government is investing in modern farming methods, mechanization, and research. Jagdeo said new innovation hubs and diversification support centres will be set up in each region, aimed at training young people and supporting agro-processing.
These initiatives will be backed by a development bank offering zero-interest loans, and by government co-investment in startup ventures. This includes factory shells and production units for youth-led businesses.
Jagdeo reiterated that GuySuCo’s large land holdings and trained workforce make it uniquely positioned to support this national transformation. President Ali had previously noted that the Corporation could help diversify into crops like corn, rice, and cassava using existing infrastructure.
In the 2025 national budget, GuySuCo was allocated $13.3 billion. The funds will be used to expand cultivation by another 3,000 hectares and to build more than 17 kilometres of all-weather access roads.
“We’re not walking away from GuySuCo,” Jagdeo said. “We’re building something new with it—something that reflects where Guyana is going.”