Rice industry expected to grow by 12.4% this year-2025 Mid-Year Report

Nov 08, 2025 News

(Kaieteur News) – The Ministry of Finance’s 2025 mid-year report has shown that Guyana’s rice industry is expected to grow by some 12.4 per cent this year.

This projected growth is expected despite the glut in the world market and the depressingly low prices offered by local millers to rice farmers here this crop.

Local rice farmers have been lamenting what they said are the ridiculously low prices being offered to them for their paddy, much of which is left to spoil.

Last week, Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha reaffirmed the government’s support to rice farmers, but did not provide any concrete solution to the pricing distresses currently faced.

Back in September, rice farmers in Essequibo held a massive protest in Anna Regina over the prices being offered for the paddy, along with the huge amounts that have been left to spoil on their hands.

In October, Kaieteur News spoke with rice farmers in Mahaicony, who relayed that they were pressing ahead with their harvests, even as they await the long-promised talks with government officials over the crisis level prices being offered by millers for this crop.

Farmer Roopnarine Etwaroo told this publication that despite multiple appeals, there has been no direct engagement with government representatives.

“We’re still waiting on that appointment to meet with the minister,” Etwaroo said. “Our farmers are harvesting, yes — but at $2,800 a bag, it’s below the break-even point. We simply can’t sustain this.”

Farmers said the current price represents a sharp fall from the $4,000 per bag earned last crop, even after factoring in the government’s previous subsidy. Many warned that if the situation persists, small rice farmers could go under.

Despite these concerns, the minister assured farmers that the government will support them to ensure the sustainability of the industry.

Speaking during a meeting with rice farmers along the Essequibo Coast last week, Minister Mustapha highlighted the significant progress being made in rice production under the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) administration.

Mustapha, acknowledging that there are global challenges affecting rice, told farmers that an influx from major producers, has led to a dip in international prices. However, he disclosed that he has been having engagements with millers to secure a better price for paddy.

“Minister Mustapha announced that the government will soon commence construction of a $2 billion modern drying and storage facility at Onderneeming on the Essequibo Coast. The facility, he noted, will have the capacity to accommodate a significant amount of paddy, and will significantly reduce post-harvest losses while improving quality control and price competitiveness,” the statement added.

The mid-year report also highlighted the expansion of the agriculture, fishing, and forestry sectors by an estimated nine per cent in the first half of the year. The sugar industry expanded by 136.7 per cent when compared with the first half of 2024, with the full-year growth projection maintained at 115.4 percent.

In the other crops subsector, there was an estimated 7.4 per cent growth in the first half of this year, with a revised growth projection of 11.9 per cent for the entire year. On the other hand, the livestock industry expanded by an estimated 11.7 per cent in the first half of the year, driven by increased output across all products, and the subsector is now expected to grow by 7.2 per cent for the entire year.

“The forestry industry is estimated to have grown by 6.2 per cent in the first half, and growth is expected to remain unchanged at 1.3 per cent for the year, the report added.

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Rice industry expected to grow by 12.4% this year-2025 Mid-Year Report

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