As part of the Government of Guyana’s ongoing efforts to make the rice industry more resilient and to safeguard farmers against climate-related risks, rice farmers from Region Five (Mahaica–Berbice) on Saturday received certificates under the UPL Crop Insurance Scheme.
A total of 1,139 rice farmers from the region are set to benefit from the programme and will receive coverage for the current crop. The insurance package provides compensation for losses arising from natural disasters such as flooding and drought, offering farmers an added layer of security.
The certificates were distributed by Agriculture Minister, Hon. Zulfikar Mustapha, at the Mahaica-Mahaicony-Abary (MMA) office at Onverwagt, where farmers gathered to formally receive their documentation.
While addressing the farmers, Minister Mustapha said the initiative represents another fulfilled commitment made by H.E. President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali to support the agricultural sector.
“We are now distributing the certificates for the insurance product that you joined. We should all recognize the role that President Ali played in getting us to this point. When we launched this programme, some people said we were only doing it because elections were close and that it would not materialize. But here we are today. For the first time in our country’s history—and for the first time in the Caribbean—we are providing insurance for farmers,” the Minister said.
He explained that rice farmers are not required to pay any premiums under the scheme.
“As rice farmers, you do not have to pay any premium, which means you do not contribute to the cost of the insurance. The President engaged UPL, and we were able to convince them to invest in this product,” Minister Mustapha explained.
Minister Mustapha further noted the strong uptake of the insurance programme across the rice sector. He added that several criteria apply and encouraged farmers to familiarize themselves with the guidelines.
“In the rice industry, we have approximately 6,000 farmers. To date, 5,688 farmers have registered for this programme. Those farmers will be entitled to coverage for the 2026 crop. If their crops are destroyed by drought or flood, they will be compensated by the company. There are specific requirements, and I hope the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) has circulated the advisory so that farmers are fully aware of what is required,” he noted.
The Agriculture Minister also addressed recent financial support provided to rice farmers, including the $300 per bag paddy subsidy. He explained that the subsidy distribution followed a transparent and audited process.
“Recently, we distributed the $300 per bag subsidy that the President promised. Earlier last year, we also contributed $300 per bag. There are some naysayers—people who never did anything for farmers—questioning the process. GRDB has a formula. Farmers’ receipts were matched against millers’ receipts. Based on that, we determined the number of bags sold to the mills and the corresponding payments. Before any money was paid, the information was audited and verified. Once that process was completed, the names were submitted to the Ministry of Finance to prepare the cheques,” Minister Mustapha said.
Minister Mustapha also spoke about production levels and expansion within the MMA Scheme, noting its significant contribution to national output.
“This scheme has the capacity to cultivate 105,000 acres. For this crop, we have already planted 94,000 acres, and I am hopeful that within another two weeks, we will surpass the 100,000-acre mark. Last year, for the first time in our country’s history, we produced 725,000 tonnes of rice. With this level of production, we must secure more markets. I am currently in discussions with the Ambassador of Mexico and also exploring opportunities in other Latin American countries,” the Minister explained.
At the same time, he emphasized the Government’s focus on reducing production costs for farmers. Minister Mustapha outlined several interventions aimed at easing the financial burden on rice farmers.
“Over the last few years, we have assisted farmers with fertilizer. Initially, farmers received half a bag per acre. For the last crop, the President instructed that this be increased to one bag per acre. Many farmers received hundreds of bags of fertilizer from the government. Several farmers received seed paddy through GRDB. When we experienced the paddy bug infestation, I instructed GRDB to procure chemicals and pay laborers to spray dams and mears,” he added.
Between 2024 and 2025, rice farmers in Region Five benefited from approximately $1.8 billion in government interventions. These included support for seed paddy, fertilizer, chemicals for paddy bug control, and the $300 per bag paddy subsidy, reinforcing the Government’s commitment to strengthening the rice industry and protecting farmers’ livelihoods.
