Guyana President prioritizes hemp processing before cultivation

President Irfaan Ali has stated that Guyana must establish necessary processing facilities before advancing the large-scale cultivation of industrial hemp. Speaking during a visit to Kuru Kuru on the Soesdyke-Linden Highway, the President emphasized the need to build a complete ecosystem, including the right varieties and companies capable of producing oil for consumption.

The Guyana Industrial Hemp Regulatory Authority has been established to oversee the sector following the passage of the Industrial Hemp Bill four years ago, which decriminalized the plant. Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha previously noted that overseas companies have expressed interest in investing in processing facilities. Currently, Regions Six and Ten have been identified for potential hemp planting.