Construction of Guyana’s first climate-controlled rice storage hub in Region Two is set to begin in the second half of 2026, with the facility expected to provide an intended 10,000 tonnes of storage capacity as the government continues to strengthen infrastructure and support across the rice industry.
The initiative is outlined in the 2026 Mid-Year Report and forms part of a wider strategy to improve rice production, post-harvest management, market access and resilience within the sector.
The investment follows the government’s 2026 Budget commitment to increase rice-storage capacity through climate-controlled silos over the next five years, with $1 billion allocated this year to commence construction of the silos.
For rice, controlled storage is particularly important because improperly stored paddy may be affected by moisture, heat, insects, mould, and other forms of grain deterioration.
The main purpose is to protect and preserve harvested paddy/rice under controlled conditions so it can be stored for longer while maintaining the grain quality.
The planned facility comes against the backdrop of continued growth in the rice subsector.
In the first half of 2026, rice production grew by an estimated 4.4 per cent, increasing to 414,088 tonnes of rice equivalent compared to 410,194 tonnes during the corresponding period in 2025.
Full-year production is projected at 827,838 tonnes of rice equivalent.
At the same time, the government has strengthened mechanisms to protect farmers against production risks.
In the first half of the year, 2,068 rice farmers received nearly US$128,000 in crop-insurance claims after weather-related losses associated with above-normal rainfall during the first crop. This marked the first time the crop-insurance facility was accessed.
Beyond insurance payouts, approximately $2.8 billion in direct support was provided to 5,106 rice farmers cultivating 234,920 acres during the review period.
Additional interventions included improved tillage, drone-based crop management, new varieties, pest-control measures, nano fertiliser and certified seeds.
The government is also advancing measures to improve the quality and value of Guyana’s rice production, including the development of improved and biofortified varieties, expansion of newly commissioned varieties, promotion of value-added rice products and research into new markets for paddy and rice.
The planned climate-controlled storage hub will add to this support by expanding the sector’s capacity to properly store harvested rice, while complementing ongoing efforts to improve production and create additional opportunities for farmers.
The investment underscores the government’s continued focus on building a more resilient and modern rice industry, from production and risk protection to storage, value addition, and market development.
