Victoria Greens is set to open a state-of-the-art US$2 million greenhouse before the end of 2025.
The new facility will boost production by an overall 250 tonnes of high-value crops annually, helping to significantly reduce Guyana’s import bill for these commodities by at least 25 per cent, according to Victoria Greens’ Manager Roland Beckles-Lamazon.
Established just over a year ago, Victoria Greens has already made a major impact on Guyana’s agriculture scene. The farm has expanded its production fourfold, currently growing around 15 types of crops with a total of 26 different varieties, including specialty lettuces like the green and red Lalique.
Lalique lettuce produced by the Victoria Greens team
The new facility will also introduce a range of new crops, including varieties of cherry tomatoes and bell peppers.
“Since we have started Victoria Greens, we have been in constant communication with our clients and customers, and through market research, we have noticed there is a need for specific crops that are imported in high quantities, and we are able to produce it, so why not grow it here?” Beckles-Lamazon said.
He also revealed that with the expansion, Victoria Greens aims to serve the local market and begin exporting across the Caribbean.
“Part of our process is being able to supply to the Caribbean, so we are looking that and we are actually doing market research on that, in terms of what is needed island to island and how we can fill the gaps that are there.
“So it is not only domestically, we definitely what to be a powerhouse in Guyana but also moving forward be a powerhouse in the Caribbean,” he said.
Beckles-Lamazon added that nearly 40 per cent of imported produce is lost due to spoilage, stating: “Guyana is closer, we are right here and we are able to cut down on food wastage.”
Apart from reducing Guyana’s import bill, Victoria Greens boasts of the freshness of its produce, which will also have a longer shelf life. The manager also stated that they can match the quality of imported produce.
Hydroponics technology in use by Victoria Greens
Beckles-Lamazon said the new greenhouse is expected to be fully up and running before the end of 2025. It will incorporate new climate-smart technologies. The current hydroponics farm uses a state-of-the-art pump and irrigation system that controls factors like water temperature and flow and nutrient balance.
“Based on what we have learnt from this current greenhouse that we are in, we are going to improve on systems that we have, so it is going to be more efficient in terms of water consumption,” the manager explained.
The farm is also planning to create about 30 new jobs when the greenhouse becomes operational.
“With the new greenhouse, I can’t say from start to finish with the construction but when we settle down, it should be about 30 persons in total we are looking at,” Beckles-Lamazon said.
There is also an apprenticeship programme being developed to get more persons involved in sustainable agriculture.
“So, currently in our present greenhouse, we are about 60 per cent less water consumption than traditional farming, so we want to continue that in our new complex. With hydroponics, it is all about a sustainable move forward, so we are not taking anything from the soil; we are soilless, we use less water, and we use less electricity,” he explained.
Looking ahead, Beckles-Lamazon spoke about plans already underway for Victoria Greens to maintain its high quality of produce that aligns with international standards.
“We are aware of other countries, a collection of bodies like CARICOM, South America and the UK, have different standards so we are looking at that and how we can ensure we maintain our quality and also meet the requirements of other nations as well as here in Guyana.”
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