Guyana says corn and soya exports to Barbados are under way
Guyana says corn and soya exports to Barbados have begun, but shipment volumes and values remain undisclosed.
Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha says increased production is supporting regional exports, but shipment volumes and values remain undisclosed.
By Browny Times
GEORGETOWN — Guyana is exporting corn and soya to Barbados, according to Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha, as the country seeks to expand agricultural production and reduce its reliance on imports.
Speaking at the Guyana School of Agriculture's graduation ceremony on October 13, Mustapha said domestic production had increased sufficiently to support exports to regional markets.
The quantities exported, shipment dates, commercial values and companies involved have not been disclosed.
Reducing dependence on imports
Mustapha said Guyana previously spent approximately US$40 million annually importing corn and soya.
He said he expected the country to become self-sufficient in producing the crops required by its livestock industry by the end of 2026 or early 2027.
That remains a government target rather than an established outcome.
A regional partnership
Agricultural cooperation between Guyana and Barbados has been developing for several years.
The Saint Barnabas Accord, signed in 2022, identified corn and soya among the agricultural products Guyana could supply to Barbados.
In April 2026, President Irfaan Ali announced that Guyana was preparing to export soya beans to Barbados for the first time, with shipments expected to begin within two weeks.
Mustapha's latest statement indicates that the government now considers exports of both crops to be under way.
Why corn and soya matter
Corn and soya are major ingredients in animal feed, making them particularly important to Guyana's poultry and livestock industries.
Expanding domestic production could reduce expenditure on imported feed ingredients while creating opportunities to supply Caribbean markets.
Guyana has also invested in infrastructure supporting the two crops. According to the 2026 national budget, a wharf, fencing and an internal road network were completed at Tacama to improve post-harvest handling, security and transportation to and from storage silos.
The budget reported that more than 11,800 acres of soya beans and 2,700 acres of corn were cultivated in 2025, yielding more than 14,000 tonnes of soya beans and 14,500 tonnes of corn.
The figures indicate the scale of the country's production programme, although they do not establish how much of either crop has been exported.
