Fisherfolk urged to diversify income with backyard farming, aquaculture

Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha is urging fisherfolk to move beyond sole dependence on fishing by embracing backyard agriculture and aquaculture as part of an income-diversification strategy for coastal communities.
Addressing fisherfolk in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), Mustapha said while fishing remains a vital livelihood, it should no longer be the only source of income for families in the sector.
“Not only fishing,” he told fisherfolk, noting that it is one of their main economic activities.
“…but you must have something else to rely on.”
The Minister said Government agencies are now being directed to work directly with fishing communities to help them develop small-scale crop production alongside their fishing operations.
He disclosed that the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) has been tasked with assisting fisherfolk in establishing shade houses for backyard farming, allowing families to grow vegetables in small spaces with minimal land requirements.
“You don’t need a large land space; right in your backyard, you can set up a small shade house, and you can develop it right here,” Mustapha said.
According to the Minister, backyard shade-house farming provides fisherfolk with an opportunity to generate a steady income during periods when fishing is slow, while also improving household food security.
He said this approach forms part of the Government’s wider plan to build resilience among fishing households, ensuring that families are not left vulnerable to weather conditions, fuel costs, market fluctuations, or reduced catches.
The agriculture Minister explained that diversification is especially important for younger fisherfolk, who must now prepare for a future where sustainable livelihoods depend on adaptability and multiple income streams.
He also reiterated the Government’s commitment to expanding aquaculture development as an additional inland option for fisherfolk.
“Aquaculture is a new inland fishing activity that we are doing,” he said, noting that the Government intends to continue expanding cage-culture operations across the country.
The Minister said aquaculture allows fisherfolk to remain engaged in food production while reducing dependence on offshore fishing alone, particularly in communities with access to suitable inland water resources.
Strengthening against economic shocks
He stressed that diversification does not mean abandoning fishing but strengthening families against economic shocks.
“We want to build an industry, and we want to make this industry resilient,” he added.
According to Mustapha, fisherfolk who adopt small-scale farming and aquaculture will be better positioned to support their families, invest in their boats and equipment, and remain stable even when fishing yields are inconsistent.
He told fisherfolk that Government support will continue to focus on creating opportunities that allow communities to improve living standards through self-reliance rather than dependence.
The Minister said that by combining fishing, backyard agriculture, and aquaculture, families can create sustainable livelihoods that are less vulnerable to single-sector risks.
“This is about ensuring that your families, your communities and your future are secure,” he told the gathering.
Mustapha said the diversification drive is also aligned with the Government’s broader food security agenda, which encourages local production at every level, from backyard gardens to commercial operations.
For fisherfolk in Region Six, he said, the opportunity now exists to transform fishing communities into multi-skill, food-producing households capable of contributing even more to national development.