Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha declared that the Government does not fear criticism, as he led the distribution of relief cheques to rice farmers in Region Six on Friday, with 1,484 farmers set to benefit from $862.9 million.
The payments, made under the Government’s relief initiative, will see farmers cultivating 74,314 acres of rice lands receive $10,000 per acre.
Addressing hundreds of farmers gathered at the Bush Lot Secondary School, Minister Mustapha said the initiative represented more than a financial payout, describing it as an acknowledgement of farmers’ sacrifices and contribution to Guyana’s economic growth.
“Today is not only about receiving a cash grant. Today is about recognising the partnership between the government and the farmers,” he told farmers.
The minister explained that payments were made following a verification exercise carried out by a committee working alongside the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) to ensure farmers were compensated based on cultivated acreage.
The Region Six distribution forms part of a wider national programme under which $2.7 billion will be paid to 5,106 rice farmers across Guyana.
“This morning here we will be paying out $862,933,550 to the rice farmers of Region Six,” Mustapha said, noting that farmers in Regions Two, Three and Five had already received payments, with Region Four next in line.
Beyond the figures, the minister used the platform to defend the Government’s agricultural record and respond to what he described as unfair opposition criticism.
Mustapha said criticism was part of democracy but maintained the Government would not be deterred, adding that critics should focus on issues that exist rather than creating narratives that do not reflect reality.
“We don’t fear criticism. Anybody can criticise. We are living in a democracy. But when you criticise, criticise with a view of bringing the issues that are there. Don’t criticise issues that are not there,” he said.
The minister addressed comments from an opposition member who had previously criticised farmers and suggested producers were never satisfied despite the support provided. Mustapha argued the Government had consistently supported the rice industry and challenged critics to compare the current administration’s approach with the period between 2015 and 2020.
“We never saw those naysayers and doomsdayers criticise from 2015 to 2020. The only party that represented the rice farmers for that period was the People’s Progressive Party Civic,” he said.
Mustapha maintained that Government support for farmers extended beyond relief cheques, pointing to initiatives aimed at reducing production costs, improving market access and providing transportation assistance for farmers moving paddy across regions.
He also highlighted other Government programmes, including assistance to sugar workers, bauxite workers, fisherfolk, pensioners and schoolchildren, alongside investments in education and healthcare, citing the restoration and expansion of the school cash grant, removal of taxes on essential items, agricultural input support and access to machinery.
According to Mustapha, these initiatives form part of a broader effort to ease the cost of living while strengthening productive sectors.
“They can criticise how much they want, but we will continue. We will continue to represent you and bring progress to you,” he told farmers.
