Rice farmers to receive subsidies next week - Min. of Agriculture

Rice farmers to receive subsidies next week – Min. of Agriculture

Jun 30, 2026 News

(Kaieteur News) – Rice farmers across Guyana will begin receiving subsidies next week, the Ministry of Agriculture announced on Monday.

The initiative is in keeping with a commitment made by President Irfaan Ali in April of this year, and forms part of the government’s efforts to offer continued support of the rice industry, considering the increasing global challenges which are affecting markets and production in the agricultural sector.

“Following consultations with farmers, it was agreed that the assistance would be provided through direct cash transfers. Rice farmers cultivating 50 acres or less will receive $15,000 per acre, while those cultivating more than 50 acres will receive $10,000 per acre,” the statement reminded.

Rice farmers to receive subsidies next week - Min. of Agriculture

Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha

Through the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB), the ministry embarked on a mission and has completed the registration process for eligible farmers, and underwent the verification claims necessary to ensure transparency and accountability subsequent to the conclusion of harvesting.

The verification process has since been completed and has paved the way for the beginning of payments next week. The initiative is said to cost the government approximately $3 billion, reflecting its commitment to supporting the farmers, safeguarding their livelihoods and strengthening the country’s rice industry.

“The government remains committed to working closely with our farmers to ensure that the rice sector continues to grow, remains competitive, and contributes to national food security, economic growth, and rural development,” it added.

It was reported by this publication on June 19 that over 2800 rice farmers in Regions Five and Six are expected to benefit from the multibillion-dollar assistance.

Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha, met with rice cultivation committees from the two regions, to discuss findings stemming from a series of field visits, alongside verification exercises which were conducted to identify which farmers were eligible for the initiative, the statement read.

“During the meeting, committee members provided updates on the verification process and outlined the results of their assessments. The exercise was undertaken to ensure that all eligible farmers are accurately identified and captured for the distribution of assistance. According to the reports, a total of 1,387 farmers in Region Five and 1,484 farmers in Region Six have been verified and are set to benefit from the programme,” the statement said.

During his address to the committee members, Mustapha stressed the importance of maintaining accuracy and transparency throughout the process used to verify farmers. He reminded that the administration is committed to ensuring assistance reaches the beneficiaries and that the integrity of the exercise is upheld.

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agriculture, Rice farmers, subsidies, Zulfikar Mustapha

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