IDB-backed programme boosts productivity, farmers’ livelihoods

Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha

Thousands of farmers across Guyana have seen improvements in productivity and livelihoods through the Sustainable Agricultural Development Programme (SADP), Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha said on Wednesday.

Speaking at the Exit Workshop for the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB)-funded project at the World Trade Centre in Georgetown, Mustapha said the programme had helped modernize systems, promote the sustainable use of natural resources, and support the country’s contribution to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

“The SADP clearly achieves its objective – assisting farmers to enhance their productivity and improve their livelihoods, while strengthening our agricultural institutions and natural resource management,” Mustapha said.

Lorena Solórzano-Salazar, IDB Country Representative, described the programme as one of the bank’s most successful projects in Guyana, noting its alignment with the government’s agricultural vision. She highlighted the strengthening of the agricultural data and information system, which supports decision-making through technological integration in Agricultural Innovation Systems (AIS).

Project Coordinator Khemlall Alvin said the creation of a national digital agricultural information system was a major achievement, enabling farmer registration and extension services, alongside capacity-building initiatives through numerous training sessions across all regions.

In March 2023, the Ministry received equipment valued at $150 million to support small- and medium-scale farmers, and in August, 30 farmers in Region Four (Demerara–Mahaica) received inputs worth $ 3.3 million.

Initially targeting Regions Five, Nine, and Ten, the programme was later expanded nationwide, benefiting thousands of farmers.