Guyana: Record Sugar Production in 2023, boosts agriculture sector

The Ministry of Agriculture in Guyana reflected upon some of its major achievements made during the past year, 2023, especially in the nation's Sugar Industry. It marked that one of the year's significant achievements was the re-opening of the Rose Hall Estate on Sept 20 and the production of 1,031 MT of sugar.The Ministry noted that the Sugar production in the previous year was 60,204 MT, which means a 28% or 13,155 MT increase in production compared to 47,049 MT in 2022.In Planting and Agriculture, the government noted that the Industry was able to plant 52% more land in 2023, which is a total of 4,020 Hectares compared to 2,640 Ha in 2022.In Export, the Ministry said that 54% of sugar production was marketed as bagged or packaged in 2023 compared to 48% in 2022. During the same year, many projects continued the Land Conversion and Mechanization Projects across the Industry to convert over 5,000 Ha of Land over the next two years.Also, the Agricultural Ministry Launched new value-added packaged brands, like Albion Gem's and Demerara Gold Sugar Sticks Sachet. It also commenced the construction of the Albion and Blairmont Packaging Plants to increase the production of value-added packaged sugar. While considering the Employment rate, the Industry currently employs 8,294 workers as of December 2023. Since taking office in 2020, the Ministry shared that they have hired 4,692 new employees till the previous year.Further, In the same year, the Ministry also made specific achievements in Livestock. The government of Guyana invested $1.150 billion in the livestock industry in 2023, Development of GLDA's Genetic improvement programme under which:

• 64 breeding bulls were imported from Texas
• It also achieved over 50 confirmed pregnancies under the Embryo Transfer Programme, and it is expected that another 300 will be done in 2024.
• 1,555 Bovine Artificial Inseminations were done as compared to 2022, when 1,212 were done.
• Pasture development saw 19,000 acres being upgraded in five Regions, namely Regions 2,3,5,6 and 10.

Further, the Ministry also succeeded last year with the Clean Milk Project. 3 Clean Milk parlors were established in Mon Repos, MMA, and Tarlogie.Following the same year, Honey signed an MOU with Cuba. Specialists are expected to visit Guyana in January to assist with further developing the apiculture industry.