GuySuCo Central to Food Security and Economic Growth – VP
June 20 2025
Vice President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo has strongly defended the role of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) in the government’s national development agenda.
Speaking at his weekly press conference on Thursday at Freedom House, Dr. Jagdeo emphasised that GuySuCo remains a key component of the administration’s broader strategy to transform agriculture, promote rural employment, and achieve long-term food security.
According to the Vice President, the government’s agricultural focus goes far beyond rice and includes a wide array of crops aimed at diversifying income and boosting exports. Among these are cassava, nutmeg, turmeric, coffee, cocoa, shrimp, and roses. Last year alone, 55 million pounds of cassava were cultivated—an indication, he said, of the tangible success of this approach.
In every one of these sectors, more people are being employed and more people are earning income, Dr. Jagdeo noted, highlighting the economic opportunities emerging in both traditional and non-traditional agricultural ventures.
He also disclosed plans for the cultivation of hemp and small-scale cigar production, pointing out that supporting infrastructure is already in place. Specifically, 2,000 acres of GuySuCo land at Skeldon will be allocated to 1,000 farmers as part of the income diversification initiative.
In a more expansive vision, the Vice President detailed plans to use over 60,000 acres—including 35,000 acres of privately and corporately held land in the Skeldon/Crabwood Creek area—for the creation of an agro-industrial complex. A new road is being constructed from Crabwood Creek to Orealla to support this development.
In Region Five, an additional 55,000 acres will be made available through irrigation projects designed to empower small farmers and expand both crop and livestock farming.
Dr. Jagdeo explained that GuySuCo’s integration into this strategy allows for the redeployment of labour into new areas of economic opportunity. As an example, he cited the $6 billion industrial estate being developed at the former Enmore Sugar Factory, which is expected to create 4,000 jobs. A major access road is also under construction to support this estate.
He criticised detractors of President Ali’s recent comments, saying that critics failed to understand the broader economic transformation underway. The government’s vision, he noted, includes modernising agriculture through mechanisation, scientific research, and youth training.
To further this goal, the administration plans to establish innovation hubs and diversification support centres in each region. These will focus on skills training, agro-processing, and market-driven agricultural development. A development bank will also provide zero-interest loans to support these ventures.
The Vice President added that government coinvestment in agriculture will continue, with support being given to construct factory shells and production units for youth-led enterprises.
As part of the 2025 national budget, GuySuCo received a $13.3 billion allocation. This funding will be used to develop 3,000 additional hectares of land and construct over 17 kilometres of all-weather roads—further evidence, Jagdeo said, of the administration’s commitment to agricultural and national transformation.
