Onverwagt Prawns Project coming into full fruition

Feb 22, 2026 Letters

Dear Editor,

I was always enamored with the Onverwagt Prawns Project, and now the news has it that it is projected to produce over 360 tonnes of shrimp annually, and is part of the Ministry of Agriculture’s strategy to expand the national shrimp industry, and why? To “… generate income for local farmers and reduce reliance on imported seafood.”

To contextualize what I have just said, I go back to the caption in the press recently, “Locally-farmed Vannamei Shrimp now in Massy Stores.” This is really big, and the details show that the “Massy Stores (Guyana) Inc, in partnership with the Agriculture Ministry, has officially launched the sale of the locally produced Vannamei shrimp from the said Onverwagt Prawns Project, and Guyanese can now access this well-packaged and processed product from their Massy Stores located all across the country.

Quickly let me say a few things about this variety of shrimp, known as the Litopenaeus vannamei. It is the world’s most cultivated shrimp, highly prized for a few good things-its high-density farming capability, disease resistance capability, and rapid growth. I add that it is a highly nutritious, low-fat protein source (approx. 20g/100g) rich in Omega-3 (540mg/100g) and selenium. And very importantly, as of early 2026, farmgate prices range from USD 3.28 to $5.89 per kg for sizes 80 to 30, with Ecuador being a dominant exporter. So outside of the local milieu, Guyana is moving in a direction that has export possibilities.

Another good word on this is that the Assistant Vice-President (VP) and General Manager (GM) of Massy Stores (Guyana) Inc, Christpen Bobb-Semple, emphasized the importance of public-private collaboration in advancing national development. He stated that “Our partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture demonstrates how public policy and private sector collaboration can translate vision into tangible outcomes.” He detailed that “By supporting initiatives such as the Onverwagt Vannamei Shrimp Project, we are contributing to Guyana’s non-oil economic diversification, strengthening local value chains, and providing consumers with greater access to high-quality, locally sourced food.” What else can we ask for when it comes to this project bearing results that are so tangible.

Editor, it is good to know that the Onverwagt initiative is a part of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic Government’s overall plan to build a modern aquaculture industry that is capable of supplying local markets and eventually expanding into export. Late last year, I recall the Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha, telling the nation that “… the project aligns with Guyana’s wider goals of food security and economic diversification … as we are expanding this initiative nationally to attract more people into aquaculture. Our goal is to secure large investors so Guyana can become a major producer and exporter of prawns.” I think it is only a matter of time.

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