BLACK BUSH POLDER, Berbice — Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha met with residents and rice farmers from Yakusari, Mibicuri, and the Number 52-74 area on the Upper Corentyne Coast on Saturday, addressing local concerns and reaffirming the government’s continued commitment to Guyana’s rice industry.
During the meeting, farmers in Black Bush Polder raised complaints about contractors failing to clear drainage structures properly. Mustapha warned that such negligence would not be tolerated and said contractors found spraying trenches instead of desilting them would have their contracts revoked.
“For the second crop of 2025, approximately 22,000 acres of rice were cultivated in Black Bush Polder, contributing to the 62,000 acres planted across Region Six,” Mustapha said, highlighting the region’s vital role in national rice production.
He reminded farmers that under President Mohamed Irfaan Ali’s leadership, the government has made major investments to keep the rice sector strong and competitive. “Last crop, the government injected $1.9 billion into the sector, providing $300 per bag of paddy sold, along with fertilizer, agro-chemicals, and seed paddy as direct support,” Mustapha said. He also noted that a major paddy bug intervention program benefited hundreds of farmers through extensive spraying to control pest populations.
Mustapha acknowledged that global market forces, such as India releasing nearly 200 million tonnes of rice onto the world market, have affected prices. However, he said the government continues to cushion local farmers from external shocks.
He reiterated President Ali’s recent announcement that the government will again provide $300 per bag of paddy produced for the current crop — a measure expected to inject another $2.7 billion directly into the rice industry.
“The government stands firmly with our farmers,” Mustapha said. “We will continue to protect their livelihoods and ensure Guyana’s rice industry remains one of the most resilient in the region.”