| By Leon SuseranThe Inter- American Development Bank (IDB)/Japanese Trust Fund- Funded Shadehouse, Phase Two Project on Hydroponics farming is well underway across Guyana, especially in Regions Five and Six. Ministry of Agriculture Consultant for Hydroponics Farming in those Regions,Stephen Curry Panthers Jersey, Ms. Shazeena Seetayah, is busy promoting the innovative farming idea across East and West Berbice. The goal of the project themed, ‘Sustainable livelihoods and Community Economic Growth through Hydroponic and Organic Vegetable Production and Marketing’, is to provide sustainable livelihood opportunities forComposite shot showing a shade-house going up along the West Coast of Berbice and pepper plants in Region Four growing the hydroponics way.low- Income households in rural and coastal communities in Guyana by engaging small- scale producers in hydroponic and natural/organic cultivation of vegetables for the domestic and export.According to Seetayah,Tony Perez Reds Jersey, various crops in Guyana are already being grown hydroponically, including tomatoes and other cash crops. Hydroponics, she stated, is ideally suited for Guyana’s climatic conditions, too, since it is usually hot and sunny on most days and the practice of hydroponics require little ‘back- breaking’ work in the garden (in the hot sun). There is no forking and very little bending (if any).The programme she is promoting provides every material, including fertilizers, needed to cultivate the crops using the method of hydroponics. Under the special IDB-funded programme, all that is needed by the farmers, individuals or organizations such as schools, is to build the infrastructure on which the cultivation will take place.Seetayah explained that the first thing part of the hydroponics process is, having the right proportion of the white sand and paddy shells… “40 per cent of sand and 60 per cent paddy shells, mixed together.” “It is set in the box or pot and after that you just put your seedlings inside and use the fertilizer to water the plants in the morning and evening—a specified amount, for six days and on the seventh day you use the plain water and the cycle is continued. As the plant grows, you add a little more of the fertilizer,” she explained.Seetayah noted that phase one of the project finished last year and phase two began earlier this year. She explained that the practice is nothing new and is an age-old one that was started since the 18th Century, after scientists discovered that plants grew while absorbing nutrients in organic ions water.“It’s about the people choosing this and we working with the people, whoever shows interest, we just work along with the group,” she added.While Regions Two,Zach Cunningham Womens Jersey, Three and Four have over 48 shade-houses, the project in Regions Five and Six are gaining steam.S. Megnauth of Bath Settlement, Seetayah added, has a shade house going up “and she has [planted] some pak- choi.”Mitford Ward, another resident of Berbice,Mack Hollins Jersey, in Glasgow Housing Scheme, already has his shade- house erected and is installing his boxes, gearing up for planting using hydroponics.“Almost anything can be grown,Phil Jones Jersey, tomatoes,Obi Melifonwu Jersey, leafy crops, peppers, cucumbers,” the Consultant told Kaieteur News yesterday.The project provides fertilizers; shade- house plastic for the 18×24 structure and seedlings for the first crop “and we also give technical support throughout the four-year life of the project. We also support natural production like traditional way of farming.”Hydroponics, she added, is healthier and more organic and “we don’t use pesticides. To control pests, we use homemade stuff like garlic and pepper and neem to make our own pesticides. |
