Budget 2025: $104.6B allocated to take agriculture sector to higher heights
In his presentation of Budget 2025, the Senior Minister in the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance and Public Service, Dr. Ashni Singh, announced a whopping $104.6 billion allocation to the agriculture sector.
“Since returning to office, we have worked tirelessly to reverse the neglect of the agriculture sector that occurred between 2015 and 2020,” Dr. Singh declared. He highlighted the government’s success in rehabilitating infrastructure, introducing innovative technologies, and supporting farmers and agro-processors countrywide.
In 2024 alone, $98.7 billion was spent on agriculture, but in 2025, Dr. Singh explained, “We will accelerate our investments, with $104.6 billion budgeted to ensure our farmers, fishers, and agro-processors have the tools, training, and infrastructure they need to succeed.”
“We developed climate-smart rice varieties and increased investment in pest-resistant, bio-fortified, and high-yielding varieties,” said Dr. Singh.
In 2024, $524 million was spent on the rice industry, and an additional $430.9 million was allocated for 2025. These funds will expand storage capacity, extend precision agriculture technologies, and further improve crop management.
The government is investing $2.9 billion in 2025 to support the development of non-traditional crops like corn, soybean, coconuts, spices, and citrus.
“It is our vision to achieve self-sufficiency in soybean production by the end of 2025,” Dr. Singh stated.“ To diversify production, we established a broiler breeding facility, distributed thousands of broilers and ducklings, and opened up 65-acre pasture plots,” Dr. Singh noted.
A total of $1.7 billion is budgeted for 2025 to expand initiatives like constructing processing facilities and introducing bio-secure poultry zones.In 2024, $1.1 billion was expended to strengthen fisheries and aquaculture.
In 2025, $1.3 billion will support the construction of shrimp ponds, fish cages, landing sites, and infrastructure for aquaculture feed mills.
“We are implementing anti-piracy measures, upgrading landing sites, and decentralizing support services to ensure sustainable growth,” said Dr. Singh.The government plans to spend $73.2 billion in 2025 to revolutionise water management.
“Hope-like canals in Regions Three, Five, and Six will improve water management for over 430,000 acres of land,” explained Dr. Singh.
The budget also covers new pump stations, embankments, and machinery for preventive maintenance.With $800 million budgeted for 2025, agro-processing will see significant upgrades.
He said, “Our investments are building a resilient, diversified, and modern agriculture sector. By 2025, Guyana will not only meet its domestic food requirements but also emerge as a major exporter to the CARICOM region.”
