President Dr. Irfaan Ali has called on private farmers in Berbice to commit fully to large-scale food production, warning that Guyana cannot afford idle lands or absentee landlords at a time of growing opportunities in agriculture.The Head of State, accompanied by several Cabinet Ministers, met on Wednesday with cane and rice farmers from Skeldon and surrounding communities to discuss plans for revitalising abandoned farmland.He revealed that between 8,000 and 12,000 acres could be put into productive use for crops such as sugarcane, citrus and coconuts.“We can’t have people holding on to land while government is making heavy investments in drainage, irrigation and infrastructure. All of this must be tied to production and productivity. That is how we expand business opportunities, create jobs and grow the economy,” President Ali told the farmers.The President outlined a vision for a “multi-crop” approach, where sugarcane could co-exist with citrus and other cash crops, backed by modern technology and market-driven planning. He disclosed ongoing discussions with investors from the Dominican Republic and Brazil’s Roraima State to provide expertise and technology transfer.Within days, soil samples will be collected and tested to determine the best crops for specific tracts of land. A dedicated website is also being built to give farmers and investors access to real-time information.President Ali confirmed that Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL) has expressed interest in establishing a juice processing plant at Skeldon, which could be operational within eight to 12 months if farmers commit to large-scale citrus cultivation.“We want this to be science-driven, market-driven and profitable. Whatever we do must make sense in the long term,” he stressed.Several farmers signalled their readiness to re-enter production. One farmer, Rabindranath Prasad, said he was prepared to invest in a small sugar factory on his 4,000 acres, with financing already secured.“We are ready to start tomorrow. The factory is already negotiated, and we just need your blessing,” Prasad told the President, adding that his model would also allow him to buy cane from other farmers.Others leaned towards alternative crops, with some already cultivating hundreds of acres of citrus. “We have approximately 200 acres of citrus now, with another 600 acres ready for planting. Our main product is Valencia oranges,” one farmer explained.Another, Jyoti Singh, expressed willingness to return to cane cultivation but raised concerns about the impact of privately-owned mills. “I would prefer if any mill is owned and operated by the government, to avoid fragmentation of the industry,” Singh noted.President Ali said the government welcomes both private and state-led initiatives, provided they are viable and focused on production. He announced that a representative group of cane farmers, government officials, investors and financial institutions will be formed to chart the way forward.“This is about commitment. We can’t have land left idle. Everyone here must be serious about farming. If we get that commitment, the government will provide the infrastructure and incentives needed for success,” Ali said.The meeting at the Skeldon Estate included senior government officials such as Minister of Agriculture Zulfikar Mustapha, Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh, Tourism Minister Susan Rodrigues, and Minister of Public Service Sonia Parag, along with regional leaders and Members of Parliament.The post Private cane, rice farmers signal readiness to replant as President pushes for large-scale farming appeared first on News Room Guyana.