Govt commissions 2 shade houses to push women’s economic empowerment in Moruca

– over 40 women receive training in pepper production

The Morawhanna and Smith Creek shade houses in the Moruca Sub-District, Region One (Barima-Waini), were commissioned by the Government on Wednesday, reaffirming its commitment to empowering women, expanding agricultural production, and creating sustainable economic opportunities in hinterland communities.

The facilities were established through collaboration among the Greater Guyana Initiative (GGI), supported by ExxonMobil Guyana, Hess and the China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC); the Guyana Marine Conservation Society (GMCS); and the Ministry of Agriculture through the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI).
Delivering the featured address at the commissioning ceremony held at Smith Creek, Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha commended the women’s group for its efforts to advance agricultural production and improve livelihoods among women in the community.
“Today’s commissioning holds special significance, for it reflects the central role that women continue to play in the development and transformation of our agriculture sector. I wish to commend Towatuma – Women Working Together for this initiative,” he stated.
He noted that the facilities represent more than an investment in agricultural infrastructure, as they provide opportunities for women to generate income, strengthen household finances, and contribute to the economic development of their communities.
“When we invest in a shadehouse, we are not simply investing in a structure. We are investing in the farmer who will use it. We are investing in the woman who can turn that production into an enterprise.”
Mustapha disclosed that NAREI has already provided technical training to more than 40 women involved with Towatuma, focusing on pepper production. He explained that the agency’s extension officers continue to provide technical guidance and support to assist the women in improving their production practices and expanding their operations.

He also announced that another shadehouse would be established to further support agricultural development in the area.
Mustapha, nevertheless, encouraged the women to look beyond primary production and explore opportunities in agro-processing, packaging, and marketing, noting that value addition could significantly improve their earnings and create additional economic opportunities.
“We want to see the women involved in these facilities moving from production into value addition and agro-processing. We want you to take what you produce here and explore opportunities to package, process, and market those products so that more of the value remains within your communities,” he added.
Further, the Minister highlighted the wider social benefits of supporting women in agriculture, particularly the positive impact that increased household income can have on education and family welfare.
“The impact of that income extends well beyond the individual. Many of these women are using their earnings to keep their children in school. In this way, investing in agriculture becomes investing in education, families, and the future of this community,” he said.
On the other hand, Guyanese environmentalist, conservationist, and entrepreneur Annette Arjoon-Martins highlighted the measures incorporated into the shadehouses to ensure that production can continue despite challenges associated with dry weather and limited freshwater supplies.
She explained that funding from the Greater Guyana Initiative allowed the facilities to be modified to suit local conditions, including the installation of ultraviolet corrugated roofing to facilitate rainwater harvesting, a large water reservoir, and drip irrigation systems.
“With GGI’s funding, we were able to modify the shadehouse to suit our local conditions. In light of the dry season and scarcity of fresh water, we were able to put ultraviolet corrugated roofs on the shadehouse to capture rainwater and build a large water reservoir and equip the shadehouse with drip irrigation so that our crops can be irrigated year-round,” she explained.
Arjoon-Martins noted that the project would focus on high-value crops and described the initiative as an example of what can be achieved through effective partnerships.
In addition, Group Country Representative for the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) in Guyana, Lorena Salazar, also welcomed the initiative, noting that the shadehouses could encourage greater investment in agricultural production across the region. She also emphasised the importance of adopting practical technologies to improve agricultural productivity, noting that innovation does not necessarily require advanced digital systems.
“The objective of this project is to upscale agriculture, and right now there are more people in this region who are interested in investing in this venture. The shadehouse is a great asset that can strengthen production. Utilising technology doesn’t always have to be artificial intelligence. You can employ smart agriculture, and that is what you are doing today,” she explained.
Meanwhile, ExxonMobil Guyana’s Socioeconomic Manager, Lorna Carlson, reaffirmed the Greater Guyana Initiative’s commitment to supporting projects that deliver lasting benefits to communities. She noted that agriculture remains essential to Guyana’s economic development and food security while providing employment and income for families across the country.
“We at the Greater Guyana Initiative are proud to support projects that create meaningful and lasting benefits for communities. For this project, we’ve invested not only in infrastructure but also in people, providing opportunities, training, and resources that strengthen livelihoods, improve household income, and build greater resilience,” Carlson stated.
The commissioning of the Morawhanna and Smith Creek shadehouses represents another step towards expanding climate-resilient agricultural production in Region One while creating opportunities for women to participate more actively in commercial agriculture.