Notes significant growth in sector under PPP/C
AS the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) approaches its fourth year in office in August 2024, Minister of Agriculture Zulfikar Mustapha took the opportunity to highlight the government’s significant strides in the agricultural sector. During a meeting at the President’s residence at Leonora, West Coast Demerara, on Monday, Mustapha criticised the opposition, APNU+AFC, for their lack of vision in agriculture.
Minister Mustapha pointed out the drastic reduction in the agriculture budget under the previous administration. “In the final year of [the] PPP/C in office in 2015, the budgeted allocation for agriculture was $18.5 billion. This collapsed to $13 billion when we returned in 2020,” he said. He emphasised that despite Guyana’s status as an oil and gas-producing country, agriculture remains one of its most critical sectors.
Reflecting on the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on global food production, Mustapha stated, “Many financially stable countries suffered because they didn’t have food for their population. Recognising this threat, President Ali was determined to boost our food production from the current 60 percent.”
He added, “Although we were producing 60 percent of the food we consume, President Ali insisted on increasing production by investing in new crops. Consequently, the PPP/C has raised the agriculture budget from $13 billion in 2020 to $97 billion in 2024, demonstrating our vision for the country.”
Minister Mustapha highlighted the expansion of traditional crops and the notable increase in rice and sugar production. “Last year, we increased sugar production to 60,000 tonnes and aim to boost it to 100,000 tonnes. We have reemployed over 50,000 people from the sugar estates and plan to reemploy others who lost their jobs,” he noted.
Emphasising the improvements in living and working conditions for Guyanese, Mustapha urged citizens to remember the hardships they faced under the opposition party before August 2020 and to reflect on the progress made under President Ali’s leadership. “We have a President who has visited every region, listened to the people’s concerns, and brought development to them,” he said.
Minister Mustapha acknowledged the challenges the government faces, but assured those present that the PPP/C is committed to overcoming any obstacles that hinder the country’s progress. He also took a jab at the opposition, accusing them of trying to reinvent themselves. “As we approach our four-year mark in government, let us not forget the people who tried to deny Guyanese their freedom and democratic rights,” he stated.
Concluding his address, Minister Mustapha stressed the importance of moving forward. “We have full knowledge of what happened during and after the 2020 elections. Those who tried to deny the people their democratic rights should never see power again. Our aim is to build an economy for 2030 and beyond,” he affirmed.
