By Saskia Warrick
Guyana’s National Agriculture and Extension Institute (NAREI) is ramping up its hot pepper cultivation efforts with the installation of 25 additional shade houses.
These shade houses will be dedicated to growing two varieties of hot peppers – bull nose and tiger teeth – to meet the demand of an already secured market in St. Lucia.
The partnership between Guyana and St. Lucia underscores the growing collaborations within the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) in the agriculture sector, leveraging Guyana’s successful agricultural model.
Each cycle of the 25 shade houses is projected to yield around 11,250 plants, producing approximately 75,000 pounds of pepper per cycle.
This initiative is expected to generate a total of 75 tons of fresh peppers annually from the two cycles.
Minister of Agriculture, Hon. Zulfikar Mustapha, highlighted the progress in the construction of the shade houses and the commencement of cultivation activities.
Preparation work has been underway, and planting has already begun, indicating swift progress in the project implementation.
Earlier this year, a delegation from St. Lucia, led by its Agriculture Minister, visited Guyana to explore collaboration opportunities in agriculture.
This initiative aligns with Guyana’s efforts to expand its export market for non-traditional commodities, which totaled 8,926 metric tonnes valued at 1.8 billion dollars in 2023.
The expansion of hot pepper cultivation reflects Guyana’s commitment to leveraging its agricultural potential to strengthen regional partnerships and enhance economic growth.