Over 4,600 farmers benefited from improved technology under the Sustainable Agriculture Development Programme (SADP), which is an initiative that was rolled out by the Ministry of Agriculture in partnership with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).

At an exit workshop today, Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha, said under the Sustainable Agriculture Development Programme (SADP) farmers across the country reaped tremendous benefits, with thousands now better equipped to increase productivity in a sustainable manner.  

“Over 4,600 farmers benefited from improved technology equipment and training, and hundreds of officers and technical officers in the Ministry of Agriculture and its agencies received capacity building assistance to improve the provision of agricultural services. These advancements have improved the Ministry of Agriculture’s Extension Services and promptly offer farmers at the field level technical advice and assistance,” the Agriculture Minister said.

The Minister also said since then the Agriculture Ministry has launched an app – Farmers’ Connect – to provide farmers with access to information on market prices, weather updates, and pest and disease alerts. Through the app farmers can also receive guidance on crop selection based on soil conditions.

With the Agriculture Ministry and the IDB preparing to wrap up the programme, Minister Mustapha expressed satisfaction that it has achieved its intended objectives. 

“The SADP clearly achieves the objective of assisting farmers to enhance their productivity and improve their livelihood. Also, strengthening our agricultural institutions and modernize the systems that guide the Agriculture Sector in Guyana,” Minister Mustapha said.

He said it not only addressed growth in production, but also promoted the sustainable use of natural resources. Guyana, he said, continues to demonstrate that it can fulfill its global obligation to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), while simultaneously advancing agriculture, empowering its people and safeguarding the protecting our environment.

Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) Country Representative, Lorena Salazar Solorzano thanked the Guyanese Government for allowing the IDB to support the country’s Agriculture Sector through strategic investments focus on training and development.

“The programme has supported strategic investments in strengthening the foundation of a modern, productive, resilient agriculture sector in Guyana. And these are not isolated interventions. Together we will reflect on the broader vision – a sector that is better informed, better equipped, institutionally stronger, and more prepared to respond to the need of farmers, consumers and markets,” the IDB Country Representative said.

Noting that the programme was 100% aligned with the Government’s 2025-2030 Strategic Plan for the Agriculture Sector, Salazar Solorzano said significant focus was also placed on strengthening the Agricultural Data and Information System.

Policy makers and farmers alike, she said, are now better equipped with information on the sector to make informed decisions in the Agriculture Sector.

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