A WOMEN-LED homestead greenhouse agricultural project in Tiger Bay is expected to generate an estimated $1.9 million in revenue, following an early harvest of celery just six weeks after the initiative was launched.

President Dr. Irfaan Ali recently shared a progress update on the project, highlighting the early success of the shade house demonstration at the One Guyana Kitchen on Main Street.

“In just over six weeks, the shade house demonstration at the One Guyana Kitchen on Main Street recorded its first harvest of 35 pounds of celery, with the first batch sold to Massy at $1,300 per pound,” the President said in a Facebook post.

According to the Head of State, production is expected to increase significantly over the coming months. Over the next 32 weeks, an average of 45 pounds of celery is anticipated to be harvested weekly, bringing total production for the cycle to approximately 1,475 pounds.

At current prices, this level of output is projected to generate around $1.9 million in revenue.

The initiative forms part of efforts to empower women from the Tiger Bay community by providing hands-on training in shade house farming while creating real income-generating opportunities through sustainable agriculture.

During the launch of the project in January at the One Guyana Kitchen on Main Street, President Ali explained that the programme is supported through a public-private partnership between the Government of Guyana and the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Under the initiative, greenhouse structures will be established within residential premises, allowing participants to cultivate crops and generate a second source of income from their homes.

President Ali also noted that with support from the government, participants can utilise their cash grants to invest in the greenhouse project, which has the potential to generate more than $1 million annually for those involved.

The project forms part of broader efforts to promote urban agriculture, strengthen food production, and expand economic opportunities for communities across Georgetown.

Over the coming months, 30-by-20-foot shade houses will be established within the Tiger Bay, Kingston and Cummingsburg area. They will all be managed by women, particularly single women.

The project will be supported by the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development in close partnership with the private sector.

The Tiger Bay shade house project is being rolled out alongside similar initiatives in other areas, including Yarrowkabra, where another 50 homes will be established using the same model.

The agriculture initiative is part of a broader programme to restore and improve Kingston, Tiger Bay, and Cummingsburg, which Minister Priya Manickchand referred to as “Neighbourhood Love,” a term used by President Ali.

“What the president wants to do is to make sure we can restore some order and beauty… while we keep the Guyana charm and the hospitality that we are known for,” she said, adding that this is a hybrid approach that combines restoration, rebuilding and new construction.

She noted that improvements in the area already include upgraded surroundings, regular garbage collection, new waste bins, and improved recreational facilities.

Sections from the Guyana Stores to the seawall, and from High Street to Carmichael Street are also set to undergo significant revitalisation.

The Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha, explained that the project shows how agriculture can be fused into the daily lives of working people, including professionals.

“Start 25 minutes in the morning, 35 minutes in the afternoon, one hour per day. You can earn [more] to supplement your income,” he said.

He said this unique approach to farming is changing perceptions about agriculture and encouraging greater participation by women and young people.

The beneficiaries will be supported by technical officers from the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI), which comes under the purview of the Ministry of Agriculture.

The initiative is supported by private sector partners, including the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI). The President of GCCI, Kathy Smith, also participated in the launch.