Reg. 5 Tunnel house to produce 40,000 broilers every six weeks – Agri. Minister

Region Five is set to enhance its poultry production with a new Tunnel House that aims to produce 40,000 broilers every six weeks. This is according to Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha.

The construction at Onverwagt, West Coast Berbice (WCB), is part of a broader vision outlined by President Irfaan Ali.

During a site visit on Saturday, Minister Mustapha told reporters that the Coastal Agr. Innovation group, consisting of 30 members, will have a stake in the venture, along with additional employment opportunities created for overseeing production.

The project is backed by the Government of Guyana and supported by a loan from a local bank, totalling $170 million.

Minister Mustapha stated, “Every six weeks, they will take out from here 40,000 meat birds with various weights. And within less than a year, they will pay back that sum and start to get profits for their members.”

For the initial phase, the team will receive a batch of 12,000 meat birds to kickstart operations.

“This tunnel house will be very hygienic for meat birds. The Mortality rate will be very very low. I think this will be a game-changer for young people,” he revealed.

Furthermore, Minister Mustapha mentioned plans to produce hatching eggs domestically to bolster the meat bird development efforts.

A similar project with a smaller capacity is already operational in Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara (ECD).

In total, the Minister outlined that 13 Tunnel Houses are planned for construction across the country.