The Minister of Agriculture in Guyana, Zulfikar Mustapha, visited the Agriculture Innovative and Entrepreneurial Project (AIEP) at Mon Repos on the East Coast of Demerara
The Minister of Agriculture in Guyana, Zulfikar Mustapha, visited the Agriculture Innovative and Entrepreneurial Project (AIEP) at Mon Repos on the East Coast of Demerara. The politician took up the trip on Thursday, September 7, 2023.
After completing the visit, the Ministry of Agriculture shared some glimpses from the meeting. They also shared a detailed post with the specifics of the Minister’s trip.
The AIEP is the brainchild of President Dr Irfaan Ali, which he conceptualized to encourage youth involvement and entrepreneurship in agriculture. The president has remained highly focused on promoting youth participation in various sectors of the country.
During his visit to the AIEP, The Minister of Agriculture, Zulphikar Mustapha, interacted with students from the Guyana School of Agriculture (GSA) and the University of Guyana (UG) who are participating in internship programmes and practical activities as part of their academic pursuits in agriculture.
Minister Mustapha also assessed the ongoing works that the Israel-based company, KARLICO INC, is executing as part of a massive hydroponic production system project in Guyana.
In October 2022, Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha announced that the government was in talks with investors from Israel. With help from these investors, the government has been gearing up to develop a large-scale hydroponic project.
While interacting with media operatives during the Thursday, September 7 visit, Minister Mustapha disclosed that the company had attended last year’s Agri–Investment Forum and Expo, where they had expressed an interest in starting the project.
The Minister of Agriculture also claimed they estimated an investment of USD 15,750,000 for the project. It will involve a three-phase hydroponic production system based on nutrient film techniques and soilless production systems.
These systems are being designed to produce fresh herbs, lettuce, other leafy vegetables, and other high-value crops.
The project’s first phase will see the company setting up a 2,000-square-meter state-of-the-art hydroponic system, including a cold room, packaging facility, harvesting equipment, irrigation controllers, fertilizer mixers, water recycling system, and emergency water storage.
Source: Wic News