THE Guyana Marketing Corporation (GMC) is serious about creating a more enabling environment to truly encourage and expand the exportation of agricultural commodities. In this regard, discussions are ongoing at various levels with air and sea freight cargo providers to address the issue of limited cargo space and choice, says General Manager, Ms Ida Sealey-Adams.
“Discussions are also currently being held in collaboration with a team from the CARICOM Secretariat and cargo service providers,” Sealy-Adams said, adding:
“As a result of several meetings that were facilitated by the GMC and the officials of air cargo providers, exporters to the United States and Canada are now utilising additional cargo providers to export their agricultural commodities.”
For the remainder of 2016 and during 2017, she said, “The Corporation will continue to lobby for additional air and sea freight cargo providers for exporters.”
NOTABLE INCREASES
With regards to non-traditional agricultural exports for the period, she said, there were notable increases in the export of mangoes to Canada, papaws and watermelons to Barbados, pumpkins to Barbados and Antigua, and eddoes to Barbados and Suriname.
In terms of agro-processed products, there has been an increase in the exportation of coconut water to Trinidad and heart of palm to France (Please see table below).

The most significant increase recorded for the period under review, Sealy-Adams said, was that of the export of papaws, followed by the export of watermelons and pumpkins. Eddoes also showed a 66% increase in 2016, compared to the corresponding period last year.
There has also been an increase in the number of agro-processors who are bottling coconut water in Region 2 (Pomeroon-Supenaam).
PROJECTIONS

Market studies, participation in trade fairs and exhibitions will be pursued in 2017, to create additional markets for both fresh and agro-processed agricultural commodities.
The Corporation will have ongoing discussions with officials from the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) regarding the processing of Export Brokerage documents. In this regard, the Corporation will continue to engage the management of the Guyana Revenue Authority to seek expediency in the processing of documents.
The Corporation will also press forward to expand the agro-processing industry in Guyana.
At the level of the ministry or through collaboration with international agencies, the Corporation will be seeking technical assistance through the service of a specialist to assist agro-processors in their product development.
Through a Memorandum of Understanding with the Promotion of Regional Opportunities for Produce through Enterprises and Linkages (PROPEL), efforts are being made to have a consultant stationed in Guyana for at least nine months to work with local agro-processors and the GMC.
This by no means will be the only technical assistance that will be sought to aid in the development of products, Sealy-Adams said, as plans are moving apace to recommence the processing of fresh produce.
GUYANA SHOPS
In terms of the ongoing expansion of Guyana Shop corners, she said this will continue through collaboration with private proprietors of retail shops and hotels in all of the administrative regions of the country.
To date, there are currently seven such corners located in Regions Two, Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), Four (Demerara-Mahaica) and Six (East Berbice-Corentyne). An eighth is slated to be located in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) before the end of the year.
Sealey-Adams said the Corporation will continue to build on the services that are currently being offered stakeholders, among them farmers, agro-processors, exporters and other market-oriented intermediaries. “We will continue to consistently build effective and responsive partnerships with players along the value and supply chain of the non-traditional agricultural commodities,” she said, adding that the theme for Agriculture Month 2016, “Exploring new production frontiers in pursuance of climate resilience” couldn’t come at a better time, since the Corporation has plans to increase the availability of its service to all of the regions, with the help of
both local and international agencies.