Guyana has officially inaugurated its first biotechnology plant tissue culture laboratory, a significant milestone for the nation”s agricultural sector. The facility, commissioned by Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha, represents an investment of approximately $450 million and is part of a comprehensive government strategy aimed at promoting sustainable agricultural development throughout the country.
During the commissioning ceremony, Mustapha emphasized the government”s commitment to prioritizing agriculture, viewing it as a foundational element of the non-oil economy. He noted the steady growth of Guyana”s agricultural sector, which has made substantial contributions to the nation”s GDP, job creation, and export activities. “Over time, this increases the national supply of key crops such as plantains, pineapples, citrus, and root crops, which will strengthen domestic food security and sustain the local agro-processing industries, such as fruit processing, packaging, and export,” he remarked.
The new laboratory, developed in partnership with The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) of India and funded through the Inter-American Development Bank under the Sustainable Agricultural Development Program (SADP), is designed to significantly enhance plant production capabilities. It is projected to produce over 1 million plantlets annually, a remarkable increase from the previous capacity of just 15,000. This facility will supply clean, high-yielding, and disease-free planting material for a variety of crops, including pineapple, citrus, plantain, sweet potato, breadfruit, sugarcane, and even exotic fruits like strawberries and blackberries.
