Phenomenal creativity seen in shifting agro-processing operations – Dr. Ramsammy

OVER a dozen agro-processors’ groups from across the country participated in the Ministry of Agriculture’s Agro-Processors’ Fair, yesterday on Main Street, Georgetown, where they displayed a wide variety of local products– another push in the ongoing ‘Eat What We Produce’ – go local – campaign.
The aim of the campaign is to promote a permanent behaviour change in Guyana, which will see Guyanese using locally grown and manufactured food products.
Agriculture Minister Dr. Leslie Ramsammy, noted that there is a shift taking place in the agro-processing industry, one that is seeing greater involvement of youths, as well as the introduction of innovation and creativity in production.

“The agro-processing industry is growing by leaps and bounds in Guyana. It may have taken us a while, because for some time there was a focus on improving quality. What is happening now is that there is enthusiasm; people are using their creativity, moving us from the run of the mill products….we have taken agro-processing out of the kitchen.” – Agriculture Minister, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy

“The agro-processing industry is growing by leaps and bounds in Guyana. It may have taken us a while, because for some time there was a focus on improving quality. What is happening now is that there is enthusiasm, people are

using their creativity, moving us from the run of the mill products….we have taken agro-processing out of the kitchen,” he said.
Dr. Ramsammy stressed that in addition to more youths, many women are also being involved in agro-processing.

NEW PRODUCTS

According to him, currently new products are being introduced, a positive move in the advancement of the local agro-processing industry.
“What we are seeing now is agro-processors using sugar and fruit extracts to replace imported products that are used for spa treatments and facials…the creativity is phenomenal and it bodes well for our country that we can make use of our local products and market them as well,” he said.
The minister highlighted the fact that countries, even in Europe, are using some of the methods employed locally.
“For example, sugar crystals are very popular in exfoliation and this is popular abroad, we have local agro-processors doing this in the spa and facial treatments….what we are seeing is an explosion of Guyanese creativity,” he said.
Dr. Ramsammy pointed to successes in launching diversified product lines, such as the US$75M rice cereal project, and disclosed that the Guyana School of Agriculture (GSA) is currently working on producing a local brand of rice cakes.
“We are looking at several different things, for example we produce pepper sauce and while we will continue with that, we are looking at producing a pepper spray that we could sell as a defence mechanism, as a security thing, and we are negotiating on this right now,” he said.

The minister acknowledged that Guyana’s market of just over 750,000 people is a small one, but a good one for small-scale agro-processors to start with. “Once we can meet the demand of the local market and have improved our process to ensure efficiency, we can start thinking about exports,” he opined.
Dr. Ramsammy stated too that for Guyana’s agro-processing, as well as the ‘go local’ campaign, to be successful there must be a home grown appreciation for what is produced in Guyana.
“We should not think that people will want to buy our products if we do not value it ourselves. It has to start at home…today we see a lot on items being imported, but this fair showcase the creativity of our people in that putting out products that can compete with the items that are imported,” he said.

SUPPORT FOR PROCESSORS
Dr Ramsammy noted that the Government and the Agriculture Ministry provide support for agro-processors, support that includes making smalls loans accessible, injections of capital for start-ups and short-term courses for persons who are interested in the industry.
“The Guyana School of Agriculture has agro-processing diploma course, but we are also developing one-day or three-day courses for practitioners in the industry to do things like teach someone how to make wine and these courses will be done for free and taken to the villages,” he said.
He noted that another example of support is evidenced in the fact that other training sessions, facilitated by foreign experts, is also on the cards, and is intended to improve agro-processing operations.
“We are working with our agro-processors, also, on how to do labelling and marketing,” he said.
Dr. Ramsammy also mentioned the establishment of a semi-processing unit for turmeric and other spices at Hosororo, an undertaking that has reduced the transportation cost of the products from the community to markets in Georgetown and other parts of Guyana.
“In advancing our operations we create a demand for our own products…if we can promote high quality products, well labelled and marketed, we can develop a local preference for what is produced locally,” he said.
The minister feels that the agro-processing industry has much room for improvement and assured of the Government’s support going forward.
The entire advance of the local agro-processing industry, Dr. Ramsammy added, supports entrepreneurship, creates employment, adds to Guyana’s food and nutrition security, opportunities for local farmers and indirect benefits for other groups in society.
Additionally, among the groups represented were: Crazy4Coconuts, Surya Delights, South American Cocoa Company, Kevin’s Reflections Salon and Spa, Fresh Packages, Lisa’s Manufacturing, Marcia’s Products, Umami, GSA (Guyana School of Agriculture) Foods, Prestige, Guyana Women Agro-Processors Development Network (WADN), the New Guyana Marketing Corporation (GMC), Guyana Shop, and Savory Products.

(By Vanessa Narine)