IICA assesses preparations for establishment of Situation Room at Agri Ministry

Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha, on Tuesday led a team comprising several senior technical officers and a delegation from the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) during a site visit to assess ongoing preparations for the establishment of the Ministry of Agriculture’s Situation Room.

The visit marks a key step forward in advancing the project, which is being developed in collaboration with IICA to strengthen real-time monitoring, data analysis, and rapid response capabilities across Guyana’s agriculture sector.

The Situation Room initiative aligns directly with President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali’s call for the sector to embrace modern technology, data-driven decision-making, and digital infrastructure as central pillars of Guyana’s agricultural transformation.

President Ali has repeatedly emphasised that technology, ranging from smart monitoring systems to predictive analytics, must be integrated into every layer of agriculture to improve efficiency, enhance resilience, and drive competitiveness.

Once completed, the Situation Room will serve as a central hub for collecting and analysing national data on weather patterns, crop production, flood risks, pests and diseases, and other critical factors, enabling more proactive and coordinated responses.

Tuesday’s visit reaffirmed the government’s commitment to accelerating the project and ensuring that the infrastructure, equipment, and technical systems meet international standards.

Minister Mustapha noted that the collaboration with IICA continues to play a vital role in supporting Guyana’s transition to a smarter, technology-driven agriculture sector and that the Situation Room will significantly elevate the Ministry’s ability to safeguard production and support farmers nationwide.