Guyana making headway in food security efforts with hydroponics

President, Dr Mohammed Irfaan Ali accompanied by NAREI’s Chief Executive Officer, Jagnarine Singh on Thursday toured the farm where he was informed on the various operations. The nursery has a capacity of producing 100,000 crops; and as of now, 25,000 crops are being grown. By next week, the full capacity of 100,000 will be achieved.

Crops that are being grown include different varieties of lettuce, pak choi and some 15 high-end herbs that will be supplied to the various restaurants and hotels in Guyana. These include basil, thyme, mustard, and chai among others.

“The intention of this facility is to build additional facilities like this one to meet the entire Caribbean needs for these crops … [we could] export from here and then the next phase is to do the modern aquaculture tanks, “President Ali disclosed while conducting a walk-a-bout at the hydroponics farm.

Youths informed the head of state that the facility is utilising a nutrient film technique, meaning the crops use a nutrient solution to grow, cutting the need for fertilisers.

Additionally, the environment is pest-free, making the crops 100 per cent organic. These cutting-edge technologies are being integrated by the government into the local agriculture system, to increase food production, achieve food security and cut the more than US$5 billion import bill by the Caribbean region.

(Extracted from the Department of Public Information)