Guyana Borrows US$18Mn From CDF For Agri Programme

• The Government of Guyana and the CARICOM Development Fund (CDF) on Tuesday signed a US$18Mn financing agreement to kickstart the Agricultural and Infrastructural Development Programme (AIDP). The AIDP is expected to see over 4,300 farmers across the ten regions of Guyana benefitting, with 40% of the beneficiaries being women and youth.
• The agreement was signed at the Ministry of Finance in the presence of representatives of the Ministries of Agriculture and Finance. The programme will allow for a further boost to Guyana’s agriculture sector, supporting compliance with food safety, sanitary and phytosanitary standards in the sector.
• Ashni Singh, Senior Minister responsible for Finance and the Public Service, expressed gratitude to the CDF for its longstanding support. He also outlined various agricultural projects supported by the CDF over the years, including farm-to-market roads, which align with the CARICOM Region’s food security agenda.
• The AIDP will contribute to the Government’s broader diversification strategy, including further development of agriculture, one of the country’s main non-oil sectors.
• With most agriculture concentrated on the coast, facing challenges such as climate change risks and reduced availability of water and suitable land, Guyana’s Ministry of Agriculture aims to increase production and value addition in selected commodities. Through these and other projects, the Ministry expects to be in a stronger position to propose policies and investments that generate the highest return for the country, in line with Guyana’s National Strategy for Agriculture (2020 – 2030).

(Source: Kaieteur News)