A proposal to establish a small sugar factory at Skeldon is one of the key initiatives under consideration as the government and private sector collaborate to revitalize Guyana’s agriculture sector.
In a press release from the Ministry of Agriculture, Minister Zulfikar Mustapha stated that the government has received an offer from an Indian investor to set up the sugar factory, along with a separate proposal from Trinidad to build a white sugar refinery in Guyana.
“We are working towards restarting sugar production at Skeldon. Cane planting has already begun on about 5,000 hectares, with 1,000 hectares expected to be completed by the end of this year. We are collaborating with private cane farmers who collectively own about 10,000 to 12,000 acres. Additionally, we have received a proposal from an Indian investor to build a small sugar factory at Skeldon, and for refined sugar, there is also a proposal from Trinidad to construct a refinery here,” the Minister said during a recent meeting with the Private Sector Commission’s (PSC) Agriculture Sub-Committee.
The meeting focused on enhancing public-private partnerships to support agricultural development, as noted in the ministry’s release.
Looking ahead, the government plans significant investment in key infrastructure to help expand the agriculture sector over the next five years.
Dr. Komal Singh, a representative of the PSC, expressed appreciation for the government’s efforts to support farmers, while also indicating the private sector’s interest in setting up its own sugar refinery in Guyana.
“You mentioned the white sugar refinery, and I want to bring it to your attention that the private sector is also exploring this. Before a decision is made, we are requesting that our proposal be considered. We expect it to be ready in another week or two,” Singh said.
In addition to the sugar industry, Minister Mustapha also announced progress on the construction of storage facilities to support the local rice industry. The first facility, designed to store around two million bags of paddy, will be built in Essequibo, with tenders already issued for construction. Plans are also underway to develop additional storage facilities in other regions.
