Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha disclosed on Saturday that rice exports earnings soared to $45.2 billion for 2023. He said this is approximately $3 billion more than the revenues made in 2022.
In terms of production, he said 2023 saw a seven percent increase in paddy production which translates to an output of 653,706 metric tonnes. Guyana Standard understands that this reflects a 43,111 metric tonnes increase in production over 2022.
Additionally, Mustapha said new markets were opened up in Africa as well as Europe, noting that this has warranted the need for revamped plant breeding labs at the Burma Rice Research Station. “We are hoping to do more research so we can bring out more high yielding varieties,” the minister said.
Minister Mustapha was also pleased to share that since assuming office, eight paddy drying floors are in operation across the country, one of which includes the Black Bush Seed Processing Facility. “That facility was down for a number of years and will produce close to about 6000 bags of paddy for approximately 600 farmers,” he said.
By 2025, he assured that there will be more initiatives to boost rice production.
