The Brackish Water Shrimp Project along Guyana’s Corentyne Coast has achieved significant milestones, producing 98,159 kilograms of shrimp between January and September 2024, according to Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha.
During a meeting with shrimp farmers at Albion Sports Complex, Minister Mustapha outlined the project’s progress since its pilot launch in July 2021, when 80 registered farmers collectively produced 9,833 kilograms of shrimp per month.
With a strategic plan implemented by the government to boost shrimp production in the region, monthly output increased dramatically from over 9,000 kilograms in 2021 to 51,719 kilograms. By 2022, monthly production surged further, reaching 79,828 kilograms in 2023.
In 2023 alone, shrimp farmers in Region Six earned $1.8 billion, infusing substantial revenue into local village economies. The project now involves 125 farmers, with each set to receive additional support to optimize their pond facilities for maximum production.
“To date, we’ve invested between $800 million and $900 million into this project, including the purchase of two excavators, and we plan to acquire two more next year to accelerate progress,” Minister Mustapha shared.
Interest in the project has expanded, with farmers from other regions expressing eagerness to join due to its success. Meanwhile, a related prawns project in Region Five’s Onverwagt is also advancing.
Additionally, the government is building a hatchery at Mon Repos to produce larvae locally, aiming to reduce the reliance on imports from Florida, USA.
Regional Vice Chairman Zamal Hussain and other ministry representatives also attended the meeting, reinforcing the government’s commitment to the project’s continued growth and regional economic benefits.
