Agriculture Minister conducts AIEP site visit at Mon Repos.

Minister of Agriculture Zulfikar Mustapha visited the Agriculture Innovative and Entrepreneurial Project (AIEP) at Mon Repos on the East Coast of Demerara on Thursday.

The Minister used the opportunity to interact 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 being executed by the Israeli company, KARLICO INC. as part of a massive hydroponic production system project in Guyana.

Last October, the Minister disclosed that the government was in talks with investors from Israel who have expressed an interest in developing a large-scale hydroponic project.

Minister Mustapha revealed that the company had attended last year’s Agri–Investment Forum and Expo and had expressed an interest in starting the project.

With an estimated investment of USD $15,750,000, the project will involve a three-phase hydroponic production system based on nutrient film techniques and soilless production systems.

These systems are being designed for the production of fresh herbs, lettuce, and other leafy vegetables as well as other high-value crops.

The first phase of the project will see the company setting up a 2,000 square meters state-of-the-art hydroponic system which will include a cold room, packaging facility, harvesting equipment, irrigation controllers, fertilizer mixers, water recycling system, and emergency water storage among other things.

The AIEP is the brainchild of H.E. President Dr. Irfaan Ali and was conceptualized to encourage youth involvement and entrepreneurship in agriculture.

(Ministry of Agriculture)