300 young people to get involved in new US$4.5M hydroponics project

Some 300 young people in Regions Two, Five and 10 will be involved in hydroponics farming, a move President Dr. Irfaan Ali says will help to empower more youth while increasing the amount of food Guyana produces.

This new venture costs about US$4.5 million. It involves the creation of hydroponics farms in the region. These farms use less land area and allow farmers to grow crops in a nutrient-based solution.

And President Ali said he is eager for the youth to grow more crops and start selling their produce.

“We will be linking the outputs of this project to the markets,” Dr. Ali said during the launch of the project at the ongoing Agri-Investment Forum and Expo.

New hotels will be among those markets, the President said.

He also highlighted that the funding for this project comes from ExxonMobil, Hess and CNOOC, the three coventurers in the prolific Stabroek Block offshore. This investment is part of their Greater Guyana Initiative.

ExxonMobil Guyana President Alistair Routledge opined that this project will “directly impact the lives” of people across Guyana. And he believes hydroponics is a good venture because it allows for more effective, cost-efficient production.

Leafy vegetables will be produced through this project, the Chief Executive Officer of One Guyana Inc. Teesha Mangra told the News Room.

This company was the brainchild of Dr. Ali, who wanted more of Guyana’s youth to be able to get involved in agriculture and market their produce. Already, scores of youth are involved in the National Shadehouse project where high-value crops like broccoli, carrots and cauliflower are produced and supplied to local businesses.