Guyana records increased production of rice and sugar in 2023
CMC – GUYANA recorded a seven per cent increase in rice production in 2023 compared with 2022, earning nearly GUY$50 billion (US$238 million).
The country also recorded a significant increase of 28 per cent or 13,155 metric tonnes in sugar production, as compared to 47,049 metric tonnes in 2022.
“In 2023 we saw an increase in paddy production by seven per cent which translates to the production of 653,706 metric tonnes. That is 43,111 metric tonnes increase in the production in 2023 compared to 2022 production of 610,595,” said Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha.
“We earned approximately GUY$45.2 billion in export. That is equivalent to US$210 million in 2023. Over three billion dollars more than 2022,” Mustapha said, adding that the increase in revenue is due to Guyana being able to gain access to more international markets during the past year.
He said there were other factors that contributed to a good year for the rice sector.
He said the ministry will continue to explore options to expand its rice production in the near future.
Mustapha also announced that with an investment of GUY$8.1 billion this year to advance the revitalisation efforts of the sugar industry, Guyana registered a significant increase of 28 per cent or 13,155 metric tonnes in sugar production, as compared to 47,049 metric tonnes in 2022.
“Sugar production in 2023, we closed at 60, 204 metric tonnes, a 28 per cent or 13,155 metric tonnes increase in production when compared to 47,049 metric tonnes in 2022. The industry was able to replant 52 per cent more lands in 2023, which is a total of 4,020 hectares as compared to 2,640 hectares in 2022.
“We will be seeing less and less dependency from the government in terms of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) revitalising and bringing back GuySuCo at that point that we want it to achieve. We have seen a 22 per cent decrease of funding that we have requested from the government in 2023 as compared to 2022.”
Guyana has also registered a further 54 per cent of sugar production which was marketed as packaged sugar in 2023, as compared to 48 per cent in 2022.
