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SPICE cultivation, part of government’s diversification programme for the agriculture sector, has proven a successful venture in the hinterland.
And in order to maximize on the value-added nature of such an undertaking, a spice packaging plant will soon begin operations in the Region 1 (Barima-Waini) community of Hosororo, one of the areas where spice cultivation is doing particularly well. Other packaging plants, which will produce semi-packaged spices such as nutmegs, ginger, black-pepper and turmeric will be opened in Regions 8 (Potaro-Siparuni) and 9 (Upper Takutu/Upper Essequibo).
According to Agriculture Minister, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy, the reason the government is investing so heavily in spices is to try to cut back on the importation of the commodity, while at the same time shoring up its export capacity in that particular area.
Despite having to deal with an escalating food import bill, which at the moment stands at a whopping US$200M annually, the local demand for spices is of such that Guyana has to seek supply overseas.
The minister gave as the reason for focusing on the hinterland areas, in particular, is the disadvantage spice farmers face where marketing or processing is concerned, due to the high cost of transporting their produce to the city.
“At present,” he said, “hinterland producers cannot compete with coastal producers, as the transportation cost from the hinterland remains relatively high… As such, this move by government is intended to significantly reduce this.”
The Ministry of Agriculture is now working on reducing costs by semi-processing the spices, especially turmeric. This development will see the ministry buying the spices from farmers, semi-processing them at the various plants, then selling them to Sterling Products Limited to be packaged.
Once completed, the finished products will be sold on the local market and exported as well.
“For every eight pounds of raw turmeric, you get one pound when processed and so this will significantly reduce the transport cost,” Minister Ramsammy said.
The introduction of the spice programme is part of the Ministry of Agriculture’s Diversification programme, which targets an increase in the export of non-traditional agricultural commodities.
As such, efforts are apace to introduce new crops to ensure that production is heightened, especially in the remote communities.
In the past, spices have been incorporated on a large-scale basis as a new crop in hinterland areas which boast suitable soil type. Among these are onions, carrots, turmeric, black peppers, ginger, nutmeg and Irish potatoes. (GINA)
And in order to maximize on the value-added nature of such an undertaking, a spice packaging plant will soon begin operations in the Region 1 (Barima-Waini) community of Hosororo, one of the areas where spice cultivation is doing particularly well. Other packaging plants, which will produce semi-packaged spices such as nutmegs, ginger, black-pepper and turmeric will be opened in Regions 8 (Potaro-Siparuni) and 9 (Upper Takutu/Upper Essequibo).
According to Agriculture Minister, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy, the reason the government is investing so heavily in spices is to try to cut back on the importation of the commodity, while at the same time shoring up its export capacity in that particular area.
Despite having to deal with an escalating food import bill, which at the moment stands at a whopping US$200M annually, the local demand for spices is of such that Guyana has to seek supply overseas.
The minister gave as the reason for focusing on the hinterland areas, in particular, is the disadvantage spice farmers face where marketing or processing is concerned, due to the high cost of transporting their produce to the city.
“At present,” he said, “hinterland producers cannot compete with coastal producers, as the transportation cost from the hinterland remains relatively high… As such, this move by government is intended to significantly reduce this.”
The Ministry of Agriculture is now working on reducing costs by semi-processing the spices, especially turmeric. This development will see the ministry buying the spices from farmers, semi-processing them at the various plants, then selling them to Sterling Products Limited to be packaged.
Once completed, the finished products will be sold on the local market and exported as well.
“For every eight pounds of raw turmeric, you get one pound when processed and so this will significantly reduce the transport cost,” Minister Ramsammy said.
The introduction of the spice programme is part of the Ministry of Agriculture’s Diversification programme, which targets an increase in the export of non-traditional agricultural commodities.
As such, efforts are apace to introduce new crops to ensure that production is heightened, especially in the remote communities.
In the past, spices have been incorporated on a large-scale basis as a new crop in hinterland areas which boast suitable soil type. Among these are onions, carrots, turmeric, black peppers, ginger, nutmeg and Irish potatoes. (GINA)
