MINISTER in the Ministry of Agriculture, Mr. Alli Baksh, on Sunday inspected a thriving fish farm project at Red Lock on the Essequibo Coast and congratulated Essequibo businessman Mr. Doodnauth Samaroo for investing more than $100M in the project.

Minister Baksh accompanied by the owner of the project inspected several ponds on the 135-acre plot and said he was impressed with the fast development taking place on the farm that was carved out from water-logged savannahs and jungle.

32,000 HASSAR
Samaroo said that he has some 32,000 hassars in stock along with sweet water paku. The businessman said that within another six months he will need more staff because he is looking to expand his farm with production reaching some 500 tons per year within another two years. He also plans to export fish.
According to Baksh, the first time he visited the farm several months ago, Samaroo just had seven ponds but on his second visit on Sunday he has seen vast improvement in terms of development.
The minister said technical officers from the ministry will be sent shortly to advise the businessman on how to expand and develop the project technically.

FIELD DAY VISITS
Minister Baksh also called for field day visits where farmers from across the country can visit the fresh water fish farm and learn more about aquaculture farming.
Samaroo, a local contractor of Hampton Court village, said from boyhood he was always interested in fishes and so with that love he has invested more than $100M in the fish farm project at Red Lock.
According to Samaroo, he started the project more than a year ago after he acquired the land which was jungle and water logged savannahs. The businessman said he used his own machinery to clear the bushes and drain the area before digging several ponds and constructing buildings for officers and workers.

PROJECTION
Samaroo said his farm already has a fish nursery where fingerlings are grown. He said the nursery which is built with concrete has different compartments where the fingerlings are grown in fresh water and given oxygen via electrical pumps before being transferred to the ponds. The businessman also has set up an incubator and hatchery at the farm to boost production.
He said in the extension phase of the farm, a piggery, cattle rearing, sheep and goats will be added on a large scale and sweet water shrimp will be introduced.
Samaroo said he also plans to set up a feed mill on the farm to provide local feed for the fishes and animals. He said large amounts of corn, copra, and broken rice will be needed for manufacturing the feed.