Trinidad is set to revitalise its rice industry, drawing inspiration from the significant successes of Guyana’s rice sector.
A statement from the twin-island republic’s Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries on Tuesday said the country has procured 100 tonnes of high-quality, disease-resistant rice seeds from Guyana, which it intends to use to “revitalise and modernise” its local rice industry.
The high-quality seeds were distributed to farmers for the country’s 2025 rice growing season and are expected to support the commercial planting of approximately 2,000 acres of land across Trinidad and Tobago.
Agriculture Minister Ravi Ratiram, during the distribution ceremony at the nation’s Central Experiment Station, described the event as a key milestone in Phase I of the Revitalisation and Modernisation of the Rice Industry in Trinidad and Tobago.
It was noted that this strategic intervention is part of the government’s commitment to reducing the national food import bill, improving local agricultural resilience, and increasing rice self-sufficiency.
“This ministry is committed to supporting your productivity, your profitability and your peace of mind. More acreage, higher yields, better margins, stronger communities; and yes, greater national food security. We must reach a point where local rice is not the exception on the shelf—it is the standard on the plate,” the minister said.
He credited strong regional partnerships—particularly with the Government of Guyana and the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB)—for making the initiative possible, while acknowledging local agencies for helping to create a stable and attractive market environment for rice farmers.
The rice project coordinator, Nigel Grimes, said that rice is a vital staple in the Trinidadian diet and noted that the distribution of the high-quality seeds marks an important step in building the local sector. “With improved seed quality, increased acreage and strong support systems,” the country expects “clear gains in yield and productivity,” he said.
Last year, Guyana produced a record-breaking 725,282 metric tonnes of rice, having introduced new rice varieties over the past four years.
Local Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha has said that Guyana’s upward trend is expected to continue in 2025 with a projected 804,000 metric tonnes—a 12.4 per cent increase in production.
