EMBASSY OF THE REPUBLIC OF ZAMBIA
GEORGETOWN
Press Statement
Georgetown-Tuesdays 17th September 2024. Government of the Co‑operative Republic of Guyana has requested Zambia’s agricultural experts to help the Southern American and Caribbean country in it ventures of wheat production.
Speaking in a meeting with Zambia’s Ambassador to Brazil Glyne Michelo, who is a Non-Resident High Commissioner of the Republic of Zambia to the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, Minister of Agriculture Zulfikar Mustapha revealed that Guyana has expanded its wheat growing trials.
“Wheat production trials are underway in some selected areas of Guyana and once we finish with the trials, we hope venture out in mass production of the crop so that we become self-reliant,” Mr. Mustapha said.
Mr. Mustapha said Guyana wishes to learn from Zambian experts on how it can achieve its desire to be a leading wheat producer in the Caribbean Community.
He outlined that Guyana is trying to build a robust agricultural sector that will support the entire CARICOM by reducing the region’s food imports by 25 percent.
“The fact that Guyana is the Chairperson for agriculture of the CARICOM, we are taking a leading role in ensuring that food security is secured for the region,” added Mr. Mustapha. “As a Ministry, we are willing to work together and collaborate with your Ministry of Agriculture in Zambia in areas of mutual interest and benefit.”
In response High Commissioner Michelo informed the Guyanese Minister that agriculture is a priority sector for Zambia as it is important for food security.
Mr. Michelo indicated that Zambia is also focused on the production of high value crops and agricultural processing.
The High Commissioner revealed that the Government of Zambia is focused on research, development and multiplication of wheat varieties that are suitable for both rain-fed conditions and small-scale farming.
Mr. Michelo told the Minister that Zambia’s wheat yields have been on the rise in recent years successfully graduating from a wheat deficit to a wheat surplus country in recent years.
He added that the Government of Zambia is now aiming to achieve a wheat production target of one million tonnes by 2027.
Mr. Michelo assured the Minister that he will engage the Government through the Ministry of Agriculture in Zambia to see how best they can help Guyana set up its tropical wheat sector.
He added that Zambia has made considerable progress in the wheat sector and stands ready to support Guyana on its quest to grow its agricultural sector.
Mr. Michelo outlined that just like Guyana, Zambia seeks to be the food basket of the region because its strategic location in Southern African region adding that a failure in Zambia’s agricultural sector spells hunger in neighboring countries that are heavily dependent on Zambia for their food requirement.
He cited the previous drought Southern Africa faced in the last farming season which led to crop failure and hunger for millions of people hence the need to find lasting solutions including water harvest techniques.
“I wish to invite Guyanese to investors to come to Zambia to explore investment opportunities in the agribusiness sector including primary agricultural processing in the 10 farming blocks. There are more investment opportunities in Zambia’s livestock and fisheries sectors,” the High Commissioner said.
In the 1970s, Guyana had also sent several of its experts to work in various sectors of Zambia as a way of supporting a young and recent independent Zambia.
Guyana is a country located on the Northern coast of South America and is part of the Caribbean region.
It has a population of 800,000 people and recent offshore oil discoveries are driving rapid economic growth, making Guyana the world’s fastest-growing economy
ISSUED BY
Lloyd Kapusa
First Secretary-Press & Public Relations
Embassy of the Republic of Zambia-Brasilia
Lloyd.kapusa@grz.gov.zm