Overview
	Sugar
	Rice
	Land Administration and Land Reform
	Infrastructure Support
	Training and Research
	Projects

Guyana’s agricultural sector is a vital contributor to the nation's economy and has played a significant role in its revival in recent years. Agricultural growth averaged 5.4% from 1993 to 1999, while output accounted for 32% of total Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

The sugar and rice industries are at the forefront of agricultural activity in Guyana but "other crops", livestock and fisheries have continued to hold their own and in total, account for 10% of overall GDP and 32% of agricultural GDP. Positive growth was achieved by the sector for the last eight years, with the exception of 1998, when poor weather conditions, due to the El Niņo phenomenon, resulted in a 3.4% dip.

Given that approximately 70% of Guyana’s residents live in rural households, and are primarily dependant on income generated from agricultural related activities, a great emphasis has been placed on developing the agricultural sector in order to improve their standard of living and quality of life, while exploiting Guyana’s agricultural potential. 

A wide range of activities are underway based on the expressed needs of producers for better infrastructure, improvements in the administration of land, an effective and responsive system for information exchange, training, fiscal measures to enhance competitiveness and guidance in market development.

The farmers have returned to the soil in large numbers and the fruits of their labour are evident nationwide. The rural landscape has been transformed with a high level of activity linked to agricultural production, including new and rehabilitated access roads, equipped marketing centres, functional drainage and irrigation canals, commercial banks, input supply outlets and thousands of acres of farmed lands.

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The sugar industry, the largest agro-industry in the English-speaking Caribbean, is often referred to as the backbone of the Guyanese economy. Sugar is a way of life for the 18,500 employees, and their families, providing not only income, but contributing to their overall well-being in areas such as health care, education, housing, welfare, community services, and development of agricultural and industrial skills.

The performance of the industry over the last eight years has been remarkable. The industry has grown from strength to strength and Guyana has regained its reputation as a reliable supplier of high quality sugar to Europe, the US and CARICOM.

Significant achievements and developments in sugar include:

• Sugar production of 321,438 tonnes in 1999, the highest ever production since the 1970s, and 98% higher than production in 1991.

• Increase in exports by 67%, from 161,981 tonnes in 1991 to 270,248 tonnes in 1999.

• Major capitalisation programmes in field and factory and greater emphasis on research and technology, resulting in a 40% increase in cane yield from 58.8 tonnes/hectare to 82.4 tonnes/hectare, and an 80% increase in sugar recovery from 4.1 tonnes/hectare to 7.4 tonnes/hectare, from 1991 to 1999.

• Structural and managerial changes implemented to consolidate operations, optimise performance and reduce costs, through the merging of estates, improvement in the facilities for bulk loading and shipping, mechanisation of cane loading, centralisation of the management of stores and institutionalisation of the inventory validation programme.

• Continuous reduction in cost of production, from US$0.21/pound in 1998 to US$0.17/pound in 1999.

• Increased intake of private farmers’ cane from 3% in the 1980s to 8% in 1994 and to 10% in 1999.

• Payment of profit sharing to workers of $314 million in 1999.

A Strategic Plan for sugar was adopted in 1998. The plan aims at production of 500,000 tonnes/annum, electricity generation for the national grid, increased cane supply from private farmers, new/rehabilitated factories and cost reduction to US$0.12/pound.

The sugar industry is operated principally by GUYSUCO, a single state-owned corporation, on a fully commercial basis.

For additional sugar statistics (1980-1997)...

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Guyana’s rice industry grew dramatically over the course of the 1990’s. It is the second largest agricultural sub-sector in Guyana and plays a pivotal role within both our society and economy. There are roughly 10,000 farm families involved in rice cultivation and thousands more are involved in milling, exporting, input supply, transport etc. Rice accounts for 4% of our total Gross Domestic Product and about 14% of our total exports. The Ministry of Agriculture plays a key role in facilitating the rice industry and has overseen some dramatic changes within the industry. The Ministry’s activities in improving the drainage and irrigation system and land administration have produced substantial benefits for the rice industry.

It was realised that there was a need for a centralised overseeing body and in 1994, the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) was established with substantial representation from the Guyana Rice Producer’s Association (GRPA) and the Guyana Millers and Exporters Development Association (GRMEDA). As a result, farmers and millers now actively participate in decisions that shape their future. Indeed the rice industry is characterised by close co-operation between the public and private sectors.

Some of the highlights of the rice industry over the past decade include:

• Production of 365,000 tonnes of rice was achieved in 1999, the largest volume of rice production in Guyana’s history.

• A significant increase in exports to CARICOM has occurred, from 12,000 tonnes in 1994 to 76,000 tonnes in 2000. Also Guyana has begun expanding into non-traditional export markets in the wider Caribbean, South and Central America and West Africa.

• The Burma Rice Research Station in 1997 delivered three blast resistant varieties of rice, BR 444, BR 240 and F7-10 which now account for 75% of total rice cultivation. New varieties of blast resistant rice similar to the popular ‘rustic’ variety are due for commercial release during 2001.

The Ministry of Agriculture remains committed to the further development and expansion of the rice industry. The future of Guyana’s rice industry will rely heavily on advancements in research, the development of value added products and improvements in its global competitiveness.

For detailed rice information...

For rice statistics ...

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