Guyana Leads in Food Self-Sufficiency and Agri-Scale Growth

Guyana has been identified as the only country among 186 globally capable of fully feeding its population without food imports, according to a recent study published in Nature Food. This development positions the country as a regional leader in agricultural resilience and a potential model for self-sufficient agri-economies.

Under the CARICOM “Vision 25 by 2025” initiative—which targets a 25% reduction in the region’s food import bill—Guyana continues to lead with an integrated strategy focused on output expansion, infrastructure investment, and value-chain development.

Sector Performance and Investment Highlights

Rice: Annual seed production capacity has risen to 152,000 bags, backed by a GY$430.9 million budget allocation for 2025 to meet market demand and strengthen export potential.

Livestock and Fisheries: With GY$1.7 billion invested in the livestock industry, production grew by 24.6% in 2024 across poultry, pork, beef, and dairy. Aquaculture expanded by 13.7%, driven by enhanced breeding and disease control systems. The Broiler Breeder Project has produced 167,000 hatching eggs and supported 5,500 farmers. Regional fisheries infrastructure improvements are valued at GY$300 million.

Corn and Soy: Cultivated acreage is expected to reach 25,000 by year-end 2025. Infrastructure support includes 40 km of roadworks and GY$1.2 billion in public investment, aimed at establishing biannual planting cycles to meet feed and export demand.

Apiculture: Honey production increased over 11-fold in one year, reaching nearly 30,000 gallons in 2024, with 500 hives distributed to more than 1,300 beekeepers.

Legume Cultivation: Red bean and black-eyed pea production is scaling up in the Berbice River region, with national demand requiring an estimated 8,000 acres under cultivation. Early yield projections stand at 1.6 million pounds annually.

Strategic Enablers

Policy instruments such as the removal of VAT on agricultural equipment and a GY$2 billion fertilizer subsidy programme are enhancing farm productivity. Additionally, the Agriculture Innovative and Entrepreneurship Programme (AIEP) has converted over 70% of participating youth into agribusiness operators, with more than 200 shade houses constructed for high-value crop production.

Outlook

From 2020 to 2025, Guyana’s agriculture sector has demonstrated consistent expansion, driven by government spending, private sector participation, and strategic diversification. With food insecurity becoming a global concern, Guyana’s trajectory signals long-term opportunities for agribusiness investment, regional supply chain development, and scalable export models.

 

News and Image Source: Department of Public Information, Guyana