Ten farmers from across Guyana are set to attend a Caribbean Premier League (CPL) match after being selected in a countrywide promotion organised by agricultural company UPL Limited.

The initiative, aimed at recognising farmers who have supported UPL products, will see the winners attend a CPL match between Guyana Amazon Warriors and the Trinbago Knight Riders in Guyana, along with accommodation and gifts as part of the experience.

The draw was held recently at the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) substation at Lesbeholden, Black Bush Polder, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), with entries collected from farmers in agricultural regions across the country through retailers supplied by Caribbean Chemicals.

The winners are Mark Singh of East Bank Essequibo; Kavish Tumeshwa of Number 65 Village, Corentyne, Berbice; Krishna Prahalad of Hidernia Village, Essequibo; Jewan Gobin of Mahaicony Creek, East Coast Demerara; Sheik Dhanny; Naylon Newland of Den Amstel, Essequibo; Balram Sharma; Leslie Abel of Kingerly Village, West Coast Berbice; Devi Sirpaul of Ruimzeight Village, West Coast Demerara; and Vishnudayal Lachhmah of Philadelphia, East Bank Essequibo.

UPL Country Manager for Guyana and the Caribbean Deoram Prahalad said the initiative forms part of the company's wider effort to support farmers and give back to the communities that have supported its products. He noted that UPL, founded in India in 1969 and since grown into a global company, has previously taken business partners to major international sporting events, including the FIFA World Cup.

"Guyana, being a country with its base and, you know, the national sport being cricket, we thought it best to take some of the farmers too, to get them involved and let them look at the cricket," Prahalad said.

He explained that the CPL experience is the first of three planned farmer-focused sporting initiatives. In May 2027, another 10 farmers are expected to travel to India to attend two Indian Premier League (IPL) matches in Mumbai, while a further 10 farmers will be selected to attend the CPL in Guyana in 2027.

Prahalad said Black Bush Polder was chosen for the initial draw because UPL wanted to take the initiative directly into the farming communities rather than hold the event in Georgetown.

"This is not our first activity," he said, noting that UPL previously took 12 farmers from Guyana, Trinidad and Suriname to India in 2024. "In Black Bush, we have been having a lot of support from the farmers. They've been using the product. They have been talking excellently about the results that they have gotten," Prahalad added.