Guyana looking to Dom Rep to boost agricultural production
GEORGETOWN, Guyana (CMC) — Guyana’s Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha says the country is moving towards strengthening cooperation with the Dominican Republic as they plan to develop large-scale mango and avocado production.
Mustapha has held talks with his Dominican Republic counterpart, Francisco Oliverio Espaillat Bencosme, adding that the discussions were focused on opportunities for collaboration to boost agricultural production, strengthen technical capacity and support crop diversification in Guyana.
Mustapha said the engagement will create new opportunities for local farmers and support the government’s efforts to expand agricultural production.
“Guyanese farmers will be benefiting tremendously. What we are doing is ensuring that farmers are supported to go into these activities. We can provide the planting material, the necessary capacity building and get them involved in these productions.”
Mustapha said a major outcome of the discussions was an agreement to pursue large-scale cultivation of mangoes and avocados in Guyana and that discussions with the former Dominican Republic president, Hipólito Mejía, have advanced plans to establish a large-scale mango industry here.
“I have had discussions with the former president of the DR, who is now willing to help us to start large-scale mango cultivation. I am hoping by the end of September we can start that. The DR today employs approximately 20,000 persons in their mango industry and we are hoping that we can also start that large-scale production,” Mustapha said.
He said that while Guyana currently cultivates crops such as mangoes and avocados, production remains relatively small-scale.
Through the partnership, the government intends to support farmers interested in expanding production by providing access to planting materials, technical guidance and training.
As part of the collaboration, the Dominican Republic has agreed to send agricultural experts to Guyana to work with local technical officers and farmers.
The experts are expected to assist with capacity building, crop development planning and the establishment of systems to support commercial-scale production.
