Agriculture in Guyana received another boost with a collaboration between Dutch company, SBM Offshore and an aquaculture farm located in Region Three.
A release from SBM Offshore stated that it had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Hubu Aqua Farms Inc for financial support in December 2021. Through the agreement, SBM Offshore – which operates the floating oil platforms offshore – is supporting the rearing of premium shrimp and prawn in Guyana, at the farm which is located in Hubu, East Bank Essequibo (EBE). It is touted as the first of its kind and will be fully equipped with a hatchery, processing, and manufacturing facility.
The release explained that the project will entail the operationalisation of a soon-to-be-complete hatchery that will utilise advanced technology for the facility’s management – including the sustainable use of recycled water and solar energy. It will also allow for quality brood stock to be provided to local aqua-farmers who are being trained in rearing shrimp and prawn. Some 25 ‘grow-out’ ponds for rearing of crustaceans will be developed.
On April 5, a team from SBM Offshore comprising former General Manager, Francesco Prazzo; General Manager, Martin Cheong; and Sustainability and Social Impact Program Development Officer, Recardo Bovell; visited the hatchery under development at Le Destin, EBE, as well as the location that is housing the farm at Hubu.
Cheong emphasised the company’s commitment to creating positive opportunities for both present and future generations. He made it clear that as far as SBM Offshore is concerned, ‘local content’ is more than just a phrase.
“One of the things in selecting projects is that we really look for integration into the community and the supply chain. So, we’re looking at vertical and horizontal integration into the economy,” he explained.
Meanwhile, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Hubu Aqua Farms, Sheik Rahman, noted that the support received from SBM Offshore has fuelled the realisation of a lifelong dream. Rahman expressed his gratitude, sharing that lack of support in the past made the venture impossible to rollout, until he approached SBM Offshore. “SBM Offshore was approached and after talking to them and showing them the potential of how it can benefit the country, we were able to get a grant from SBM Offshore which is what propelled this whole thing and made it all possible.”
According to the release, this project is aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that pursue good health and wellbeing – SDG Three, the provision of decent work and economic growth (SDG Eight), as well as industry, innovation and infrastructure – SDG Nine. It will provide significant opportunities to develop sustainable work for local aqua-farmers and strengthen the overall aquaculture sector.
Further, Hubu Aqua Farms will engage a network of local farmers and rural workers to promote inclusivity in economic growth. It will also offer a reliable and high-quality product without seasonality. According to Rahman, “We’re hoping that when there is a processing plant, it will employ a minimum of 100 people in the community – mostly women who are underprivileged and cannot get work.” The CEO opined that the farm will be historic for Guyana and expressed his gratitude to SBM Offshore for their dedication to sustainable development.
Bovell, who plays a leading role in such projects, remarked that the initiative is “in tandem” with the company’s goal of positively impacting local communities. “A lot of what we do, is to look at where SBM Offshore can make an impact in the communities, and this project ticks all of those boxes and will not only impact one farmer but will also provide opportunities for wider development within these communities as well as developing technical capabilities within the industry.” The shrimp and prawns reared through the project, he added, will be used to supply the Floating Production Storage Offloading (FPSO) vessels being operated by the company offshore.
