GEORGETOWN, Guyana, Nov 14, CMC – President Irfaan Ali has announced plans for a coordinated purchasing system for eggs, chicken, beef and mutton aimed at reducing food prices while ensuring farmers receive fair and predictable returns.
Ali outlined the proposed arrangement during a meeting with producers, distributors, retailers and suppliers at State House on Friday, saying the government intends to remove inefficiencies in purchasing, transportation, storage and distribution while expanding domestic agricultural production.
“Cheaper food must not come from squeezing the farmer. It must come from taking unnecessary costs out of the system and producing more,” the president said.
Under the proposed system, the government will consolidate demand from schools, hospitals and other public institutions to create larger, more predictable orders for agricultural producers. Wholesalers and retailers will also be able to participate voluntarily.
Ali said the existing fragmented purchasing system creates uncertainty for farmers and buyers, resulting in higher financing, storage and transportation costs that are eventually passed on to consumers.
The new arrangement will establish clearer purchasing volumes, quality standards and delivery schedules, allowing farmers to plan production more effectively.
However, Ali stressed that the initiative would not represent a government takeover of farms or retail businesses. Farmers will remain free to sell outside the programme, while retailers can continue purchasing through their existing channels.
A key component will be measures to ensure that consumers benefit directly from lower wholesale prices. Retailers participating in the programme will be required to observe transparent maximum mark-ups, display programme prices and report quantities sold.
The government also plans to publish a price dashboard showing wholesale and retail prices and the savings delivered to consumers across different regions.
Ali said contracts would not be awarded solely based on the lowest price offered. Consideration would also be given to verified and efficient production costs, product quality and reliable delivery.
Multi-cycle purchasing commitments may be introduced to give farmers greater certainty when investing in production, while small farmers will be able to participate individually or through cooperatives and producer groups.
The president also outlined safeguards, including transparent contract awards, independent audits and firm payment deadlines, to prevent farmers from experiencing lengthy delays after supplying their products.
Beyond purchasing reform, the government intends to increase domestic production of eggs, chicken, beef and mutton.
Ali said poultry and egg production could expand within months with appropriate support, while increasing beef and mutton production would require longer-term investment.
The strategy includes developing commodity-specific production agreements setting out realistic output targets and the financing, land, feed, veterinary and infrastructure requirements needed to achieve them.
The government also intends to increase local animal-feed production to reduce dependence on imported maize and soybean, expand veterinary and agricultural extension services and improve access to affordable financing.
Investments in breeding, pasture development, drainage, cold storage, slaughtering facilities, transportation and food-safety systems are also envisaged, with the broader objective of improving food security and positioning Guyanese producers to access regional markets.
Ali said the purchasing arrangement would not be allowed to become dominated by a single buyer, processor or small group of suppliers. Competition authorities would monitor collusion, unfair exclusion and excessive mark-ups.
He also assured farmers that imports would not be used indiscriminately to undermine local production. Temporary imports to address shortages would be guided by published assessments of domestic production, available inventories and expected demand, serving as a measure while local output expands.
The initiative will bring together producers, processors, retailers, financial institutions, transporters and consumer representatives.
Ali said the programme would be assessed based on production increases, waste reductions, improvements in payment timelines for farmers and, most importantly, the prices consumers pay for essential protein products.
“This is not a plan that asks us to choose between farmers and consumers,” he said. “Our farmers need fair and predictable returns. Our families need affordable food.”
CMC/ed/2026