Corentyne youths to join President Ali’s agri-entrepreneurship programme

Several youths residing in Manchester and surrounding villages along the Corentyne Coast will soon benefit from President, Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali’s Agriculture and Innovation Entrepreneurship Programme (AEIP), providing them with the opportunity to cultivate high-value crops.

The announcement was made by Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha, during his engagement with several residents of the community on May 20, 2023. “I will be back shortly because a young lady raised with me that a number of young people want to get involved in agriculture, especially the high-value crops,” Minister Mustapha told the residents.

“You know that the president would have set up that company where young people are shareholders. We said that we will replicate that in various parts of the country. I will be back in that area to launch that programme with the young people in Manchester, Lancaster, and Liverpool areas,” the minister announced.

Since the President

Consultation for the revision...

sure the oil and gas industry supports an economy where small and medium-sized businesses can grow and benefit from the industry.

It also ensures that companies operating in the country hire a certain percentage of local workers and use a certain percentage of local goods and services.

However, since its passage, there have been numerous issues raised by business entities and the private sector. “We did say that when that bill was being promulgated, that it is the first legislation of its type in the Caribbean and that we will have to go back to the drawing board very quickly launched the initiative in January 2020, a number of high-value crops including lettuce, cauliflower, broccoli, and carrots were cultivated and harvested, raking in over $10 million. To further expand the programme this year, the government has set aside some $200 million in its 2023 budget. This will help to expand the production of high-value crops, where about 300 shade houses will be built as part of this project. In 2022 alone, some 120 shade houses were built to aid with production.

← FROM PAGE 16 to adjust it as we become acclimatise to this new and emerging sector,” Minister Nandlall pointed out. Already, the local content raked in some US $700 million in businesses, which essentially translated into many job opportunities and a significant spill-off effect in several other sectors.