In light of its achievements in the agriculture sector, the government of Guyana has proposed that the country be at the forefront of leading the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA).
According to its website, IICA is the specialized agency for agriculture of the Inter-American System that supports the efforts of member states to achieve agricultural development and rural well-being. The Institute provides cooperation services through close and permanent work with its 34 member states, addressing their needs in a timely manner.
A statement by President Dr Irfaan Ali and Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha revealed that Guyana has nominated Muhammad Ibrahim, for the position of Director General of IICA. Ibrahim is the candidate from Guyana and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).
He was described as a candidate with outstanding leadership qualities and experience in agricultural systems throughout the hemisphere. The release stated that Ibrahim has invaluable technical and political experience and leadership skills forged over nearly 40 years of work in agricultural productivity and resilience.
“His work has promoted the role of science, innovation, and technology in strengthening farmers, in dialogue with governments, the private sector, and financing institutions. It is this experience that our country, honoring his name, wants to bring to all of the Americas,” the statement noted.
Notably, Guyana’s commitment to being a reliable partner and working together with other nations was expressed in the release. It was also spotlighted that Guyana’s geographical position is strategic for realizing the government’s cooperative approach and becoming a link for cooperation in the hemisphere.
The release also highlights that Guyana’s economic expansion has exceeded 40% per year in the years following 2020, and per capita, Gross Domestic Product (GDP) rose from less than $6,500 per year in 2019 to more than $18,000 in 2023. It was stated that this expansion will continue this year, opening up great opportunities for all sectors of the economy.
The statement underscored that Guyana’s agriculture achievements are evidenced by the publication of a recent study by the universities of Göttingen (Germany) and Edinburgh (United Kingdom), which revealed that Guyana is the only country in the world that is completely self-sufficient in food. It stressed that this data reinforces the country’s capacity in a context of conflicts that have placed food security at the top of the global agenda.
The release also outlined that the reason for Guyana’s success can be credited to the directing of resources to different sectors of the economy, with agriculture and food security being one of the main ones, along with education, housing, and infrastructure.
The release highlighted too that in 2024, Guyana achieved, for the first time, a production of over 700,000 tons of rice, a key crop for domestic consumption and export. It was also stated that Guyana has the largest hydroponic farm in the region.
Notably, Guyana is also the first country in the Caribbean to launch an insurance package to compensate producers who lose their crops or animals due to natural disasters.
“For all these reasons, Guyana wants to be at the forefront of IICA with one of its most brilliant leaders in the field of food,” the release stated.
