GEORGETOWN, Guyana – October 1, 2025 – President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali has delivered a powerful mandate to the nation, declaring that agriculture, Guyana’s oldest industry, must transform into the “engine of a resilient future,” dedicating October as Agriculture Month to celebrate the ambitious push for national and regional food dominance.
In his 2025 Agriculture Month message, the Head of State acknowledged the sector’s historic role as the “backbone” and foundation of food security. However, he stressed that the industry must rapidly evolve to carry the “imprimatur of innovation, technology, and opportunity” to actively drive down poverty and diversify the nation’s economy away from oil dependence.
President Ali made it clear that Guyana is looking far beyond its borders. The government’s twin objectives are to guarantee cheaper, reliable, and nutritious food for every Guyanese household while simultaneously building surpluses to cement Guyana’s role as a major contributor to Caribbean food security. This strategy is being translated into massive concrete action across the country. The transformation includes scaling up production of key commodities, from rice, corn, and soya to livestock, aquaculture, and agro-processing, with the goal of opening new, competitive markets in the Caribbean and globally.
Central to the vision is a colossal infrastructure overhaul. The government is investing heavily in building new farm-to-market roads, modern storage facilities, upgraded ports, and stronger transport linkages. This aims to ensure every producer, whether on the remote coast or deep in the hinterland, can move their goods quickly and cheaply to market. The very nature of farming is changing as well, with the President touting the modernization of agriculture through digital extension services, precision farming, and climate-smart practices.
These high-tech tools are designed to slash costs, increase yields, and make production fully sustainable.The livestock sector is set for a massive overhaul. The government is pouring funds into sophisticated facilities like tunnel ventilation pens, hatcheries, and new processing plants and abattoirs. This is complemented by investments in genetic improvements, artificial insemination, and comprehensive training to boost poultry, beef, and clean milk production.
President Ali predicted that by 2030, these initiatives will position livestock as a major economic driver. Furthermore, efforts are expanding into aquaculture and cage farming, alongside the deployment of new vessel monitoring systems to protect marine resources and diversify income for coastal communities.Crucially, the President emphasized that this prosperity must be inclusive.
The long-awaited Regional Food Hub is nearing completion, which will turbocharge trade logistics and value addition, turning fresh produce into processed goods, creating more jobs, and retaining more wealth within the economy. Ali concluded by making a strong pledge to prioritize women and young people, promising expanded financing, training, and innovation programs for youth and women-led agribusinesses.
He called for Agriculture Month 2025 to be a reaffirmation that “every farmer, fisher, processor, and entrepreneur has a partner in our government,” working together to secure Guyana’s place as a regional food leader.
