On Monday, Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha, and Minister of Public Service, Government Efficiency, and Implementation, Zulfikar Ally, met with cane farmers along the Corentyne Coast as part of an ambitious government plan to revitalise agriculture and maximise land use.Minister Mustapha announced that the government is working closely with farmers to develop 35,000 acres of farmland for a multi-crop model featuring cane, citrus, and coconuts.“Last week, President Ali met with cane farmers from Upper Corentyne and instructed that I, along with other ministers, work with them. Many farmers want to return to cane cultivation, while others are keen on citrus and coconuts. We’ve already begun mapping the land, conducting soil testing, and engaging the Private Sector to construct a juice plant to process the citrus into market-ready products,” Mustapha explained.Turning to Skeldon, he revealed that GuySuCo has resumed cane cultivation, with 1,000 hectares expected to be planted by the end of November. The ultimate target is 5,000 hectares under GuySuCo’s management, complemented by an additional 10,000 to 12,000 acres from private farmers.“This combined effort will drive a turnaround at Skeldon,” the minister said.Supporting infrastructure is also being advanced. A contract valued at just over $800 million has been awarded for the construction of an 18-kilometre all-weather road at Moleson Creek to service the new farmlands. Additionally, the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) will develop the main canals and drainage systems to support large-scale cultivation.This comes just days after President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali met with cane farmers at Skeldon Estate, where he stressed the need for government investments to translate into tangible results. The Head of State outlined a bold vision for a diversified agricultural economy where sugarcane coexists with high-value crops like citrus, all guided by scientific planning, modern technology, and market-driven strategies.The post Gov’t, farmers chart 35,000-acre multi-crop expansion on Corentyne Coast appeared first on News Room Guyana.