…as soil analysis, digital platforms, other proposals on the cards for Skeldon private cane farmers
President Dr Irfaan Ali has outlined ambitious plans for crop diversification and agro-processing in Skeldon, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), including the establishment of a juice factory in partnership with Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL).
Speaking during a meeting with private cane farmers and rice farmers, President Ali explained that several options are being explored for Skeldon’s agricultural future. Among them is the establishment of a juice plant by Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL), which has expressed willingness to invest once farmers commit to citrus cultivation. According to Ali, DDL has signalled that such a plant could be operational in as little as 8–12 months, using citrus varieties capable of reaching production within 18 months.
At the same time, two proposals have been submitted for the re-establishment of the Skeldon sugar factory. While such a project would require significant Government infrastructure investment, the President underscored that it would also necessitate a long-term pricing mechanism to ensure profitability for both farmers and investors.
“So, we have those proposals that came in. We are having some more detailed discussions. One investor has said that they are formed in re-establishing the factory. But that will necessitate a discussion with the farmers to arrive at a long-term pricing mechanism. Because these investments require, and I’ll be frank with you, a long-term pricing mechanism. Because the investors have to justify their investment over a long term. So, we’ll have to have a discussion on how we come up with a pricing mechanism. But the type of infrastructure that will be required from the Government will cost billions of dollars in terms of infrastructure. And you know this. You started some of this,” the Guyanese leader said.
Crop diversification
Other crops under active consideration include coconuts, coffee, cocoa, and even dragon fruit, with expertise being drawn from partners in Roraima, Brazil, and the Dominican Republic. Ali noted that Region Two already has 3000 acres of new coconut under cultivation, pointing to strong market opportunities. Coffee trials, based on Brazilian experience, could see production start within two years.
The Government plans to convene a joint investment meeting within 14 days, bringing together cane farmers, the Ministry of Agriculture, private sector leaders from Roraima and the Dominican Republic, as well as financiers such as DDL and local banks. Ali emphasised that commitment from all parties would be essential to moving forward.
“The third option that has been presented to us, and we have one large-scale investor already looking at it, is that of coconut. And to see the viability, because the coconut market is also expanding… But whatever we do, we have to come up with a multi-pronged approach that will have different crops, but all in large-scale production to make it commercially viable.”
“We are working on, within the next 14 days, having a full delegation to have all the soil mapping completed, the soil analysis completed, and then moving towards, within 14 days, and you see the Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce here too, within 14 days, having a joint investment meeting based on all the data that we collect between the Government, the key informers, the private sector out of Roraima, our local private sector, and the private sector out of DR. So, I wanted to come to communicate this with you because this is going to be 24-hour work; 24/7, for us to get where we want to be,” Ali explained.
Soil analysis, digital platform
Private cane farmers in Skeldon are set to benefit from a range of new initiatives, including soil analysis, digital monitoring, and production proposals, as the Government ramps up plans to diversify and modernise the sector.
According to President Ali, scientific planning and market-driven production would guide the way forward.
Within days, the President said, soil samples will be taken across the area, with full laboratory analyses carried out to determine which crops are most suitable. The findings will be made available digitally through a new online platform, ensuring farmers and potential investors can access the data.
“We are doing everything in a scientific way…. so we will be building up a website for this development. All of the information will be placed digitally on the website so that all the farmers can see it, and investors can see it. And then, we want a representative group of the cane farmers to work with the Ministry of Agriculture on defining the path that will lead us to full-scale production in a year. That’s planting out,” the President said.
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