Large-scale cocoa, coffee cultivation to commence in Region One; some 3,000 jobs to be created 

Guyana and the Dominican Republic have launched large-scale cocoa and coffee cultivation in Region One, under a new bilateral agreement aimed at boosting agricultural output, rural employment and regional trade.

The agreement, signed Tuesday by the Government of Guyana through the Ministry of Agriculture, will see the establishment of approximately 200 acres each of cocoa and coffee as part of a broader initiative to diversify the economy and strengthen food security.

The project is expected to generate up to 8,000 metric tonnes of cocoa at peak production and benefit an estimated 3,000 people directly and indirectly through job creation and value-added opportunities, officials said.

The deal supports cooperation in sustainable agriculture, including cultivation, processing, marketing, and joint research in the cocoa and coffee sectors. It also paves the way for value-added production and trade facilitation.

The initiative forms part of President Irfaan Ali’s strategy to revitalise agriculture in Region One. During a 2024 visit to Waramuri Village in Barima-Waini, the President outlined plans for a 10,000-acre coffee plantation and pledged continued support for expanding cocoa cultivation in the area.