KHEMWATTIE Ramnarine, 58, has been a farmer for almost 20 years. Standing at the backdoor of her home located at Perseverance, Essequibo Coast, she overlooks her 100 by 120 foot shade house farm. Her main crops are lettuce, pakchoi, celery, and eschalot.
Khemwattie is one of the first farmers on the Essequibo Coast to adopt the shade house technology being transferred by the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) to farming communities.

“Nine years ago, I was advised to build a shade house since my farm used to get flood out…So I decided to take the advice. Since then, my farm doesn’t get flood and I can plant all year round. Right now I am building another shade house in my yard,” Khemwattie said.
Her farm is now being used as a demonstration farm for training purposes. NAREI recently used Khemwattie’s facility to conduct a training session on shade house agronomy for farmers. The session focused on the construction of shade houses, size, materials used, cost, benefits, preparation of beds, crops grown under shaded conditions, and pest and disease management. Khemwattie provided answers to questions posed by participants.
Khemwattie recalled that prior to having a shade house, herself and family used to farm in the open. Their crops were exposed to the elements, especially flooding. This negatively affected the earning capability of the family.

Today, the situation is much improved. Even with the passing of her husband two years ago, Khemwattie is still able to maintain the farm. Owing to the shaded condition, sun, rain and weeds do not challenge her. In fact, she reaps crops for sale at Anna Regina and Suddie Markets twice weekly.
Khemwattie’s story is similar to many female farmers who have utilised this technology. NAREI has been providing technical support to a women’s group in Region Five that benefited from shade houses through Food for the Poor.