Empowering Food Sovereignty: Agro-Processing Boom Transforms Region 5

Since 2020, Region 5 (Mahaica–Berbice) has become a focal point in the Guyanese Government’s campaign to fortify national food security, with more than 35 agro-processing facilities now operational across the region. This transformation is part of a broader national vision to increase agricultural value-added production, reduce dependency on imported goods, and ensure stable food supplies throughout the country. Facilities situated in strategic agricultural hubs like Mahaica, Mahaicony, and Blairmont are processing fresh local produce into longer-lasting and market-ready goods, including fruit preserves, cassava bread, plantain chips, sauces, and seasonings. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, these facilities not only streamline the farm-to-market journey but also reduce post-harvest losses—an issue that previously cost farmers significantly in both income and productivity. The Guyana Marketing Corporation (GMC) has played a pivotal role in providing technical support, machinery, and training to agro-processors, especially small and medium enterprises, ensuring compliance with food safety standards and boosting the commercial viability of their products (Source: Ministry of Agriculture, Guyana; GMC Annual Reports). Moreover, these developments are linked to the wider “25 by 2025” Caribbean Community (CARICOM) initiative, where Guyana leads the regional charge to cut food imports by 25% by the year 2025. Region 5’s rise as an agro-processing hub directly supports this regional goal, enabling local products to reach not just domestic markets, but export channels across the Caribbean. In addition to processing, the government has invested in feeder roads, cold storage units, and packaging infrastructure in the region to improve supply chains and enhance shelf life—efforts supported by both public funding and international development partners such as the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). Importantly, these facilities have also generated employment, particularly for women and youth, creating over 500 new jobs across communities in Mahaica and Mahaicony since 2020 (Source: Guyana Chronicle, March 2024). What is unfolding in Region 5 is not just industrial expansion—it is food sovereignty in motion. By empowering farmers and entrepreneurs with the tools to process and market their goods locally, the government is building long-term resilience into Guyana’s food system. This progress marks a significant step toward national self-reliance and sustainable rural development. Indeed, this is what real progress looks like—delivered by the Guyanese Government, grounded in policy, and growing from the soil of Region 5.