The government remains committed to constructing 50 shade houses for single mothers in Tiger Bay and is currently working to secure a suitable location for the remaining structures.
Minister of Agriculture Zulfikar Mustapha told the Department of Public Information (DPI) recently that land availability is the only outstanding matter preventing the commencement of construction of the remaining shade houses.
Efforts are ongoing to identify an appropriate site so that the project can advance.
The project is a commitment by President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali to build 50 shade houses in Tiger Bay for women in the community, particularly single parents.
To move forward, Minister Mustapha said he has asked the Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Priya Manickchand, to engage the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) to secure a suitable site.
Everything else, he indicated, is in place.
In fact, the registration process is complete, and many applicants have already been shortlisted to operate the units once construction begins.
“As soon as we get the land to start, these people will earn,” he said, adding that he hopes to begin “shortly.”
A model shade house built in the area is earning between $100,000 and $120,000 a week for the women operating it, with harvesting underway every week since cropping began about three weeks after planting.
Minister Mustapha said additional plantings and crop varieties grown under the same structure could push weekly earnings toward $200,000.
The agriculture minister said the women lined up for the units can expect to earn a minimum of $120,000 weekly.