$2B Fertiliser Subsidy Announced to Boost Agriculture Sector
April 15 2025 — Farmers across Guyana are set to benefit from a $2 billion fertiliser subsidy, as part of the government’s continued commitment to strengthening the agriculture sector and improving national food security.
The announcement was made by President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali during a community engagement at the Hydronie Market Tarmac in Parika, Region Three last week.
The funds are expected to be transferred in the coming days, with the aim of ensuring that every acre of cultivated land receives one bag of fertiliser, thereby easing the financial burden on farmers and enhancing productivity.
This new subsidy follows a recent $2.7 billion cash transfer to rice farmers to cushion the impact of falling international market prices, guaranteeing a minimum return of $4,000 per bag of rice.
These measures form part of a broader strategy by the current administration to increase support to the agriculture sector through direct financial assistance, infrastructure investment, and policy reform.
Since taking office, the government has rolled out several initiatives to reduce input costs for farmers and improve farming conditions. Between 2020 and March 2025, Guyana exported nearly two million tonnes of rice valued at over US$1 billion — a result the administration attributes to its consistent support of the sector.
President Ali also drew attention to the difficulties faced by rice farmers under the previous administration, particularly regarding unfulfilled financial promises and lack of intervention during market downturns.
One of the first moves by the current government in 2020 was to work with commercial banks to restructure loans for rice farmers, providing critical relief to those at risk of losing land and equipment.
In addition to financial subsidies, the government has allocated significant resources to drainage and irrigation systems.
Two excavators have already been deployed to the Hubu and Ruby areas in Region Three, with two more to be added to accelerate support services for farmers.
The administration also plans to procure two mobile pumps before the end of the year to further enhance irrigation capacity in farming communities.
These efforts form part of the government’s ongoing push to increase agricultural output and secure Guyana’s position as a key player in regional food production.
(Department of Public Information)
