The Onverwagt Shrimp and Prawns Production Facility, situated on the West Coast of Berbice in Guyana, has harvested 495 kilograms of prawns from a single pond. This modest, yet symbolically important, haul marks a new chapter in the country’s agricultural ambitions, with the facility expected to generate over USD 2 million annually.
The shrimp, while not yet the size of an oil gusher, offer a glimpse into a broader economic strategy.
Small Harvest, Big Potential
Speaking about the project’s promise, Zulfikar Mustapha, the Minister of Agriculture, emphasized the potential economic gains from the Onverwagt initiative. According to Mustapha, the prawn project is expected to deliver USD 2 million per year—a significant sum in Guyana’s drive to diversify its agriculture-dependent economy. The initial haul of 495 kg represents 70% of the pond’s prawn population, a striking figure that reflects both the facility’s management capabilities and its operational efficiency.
The remaining 30% of prawns are expected to be harvested within the next month, suggesting that the project’s focus on sustainable, incremental production is starting to bear fruit. With the global market price hovering around USD 15,000 per ton, the financial upside is clear: one prawn crop could yield as much as USD 750,000.
Scaling Up Shrimp Ambitions
Behind the figures lies a well-engineered plan. Raymond Latchman, the Project Engineer, described the latest harvest as a trial run, but one that will pave the way for larger and more regular yields in the future. The second pond is already stocked with 380,000 prawns, with the first full harvest expected in three months. It is an encouraging sign for a sector that has long been overlooked in Guyana’s agricultural calculus.
The long-term ambitions of the Onverwagt facility are considerable. The site will eventually include ten production ponds, along with three water storage and four nursery ponds. When fully operational, the facility is projected to produce 360 tons of shrimp annually, with three harvests per year. If this forecast holds, the revenue could top USD 2.2 million per year—a welcome contribution to Guyana’s growing export portfolio.
Environmental Stewardship and Market Expansion
The project is not only focused on volume but also on sustainability. The facility has constructed water storage ponds that allow it to treat and reuse wastewater, rather than discharging it into the nearby sea. In a region where environmental concerns are often secondary to economic development, this commitment to responsible practices stands out. By reducing its environmental impact, the facility positions itself as a model for future aquaculture projects in the region.
Moreover, the prawns harvested in this trial run have already found buyers, with the entire batch sold to an exporter for processing and export. This quick pivot from pond to market underscores the demand for Guyanese shrimp on the international stage. Latchman, reflecting on the harvest, expressed satisfaction with the prawn size and quality. While the first batch took longer to grow due to the project’s experimental nature, lessons learned will streamline future cycles.