A NEW multimillion-dollar coffee, citrus and cocoa factory will be put into operation at Jacklow, Upper Pomeroon River this month as local entrepreneurship shows confidence in Government’s financial policies, despite the two Opposition parties, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance For Change (AFC) determination to stop development in the country.Minister within the Ministry of Agriculture, Mr. Alli Baksh, while on a recent visit to the Pomeroon visited and inspected the factory and commended the group of local entrepreneurs for investing in the project which will create markets for farmers’ coffee, citrus and cocoa grown in the area and at the same time add value to the produce through manufacturing.

Baksh, who was shown the operations of the factory by farmer Persaud, was told that the factory is currently under a test -run and will be put into full operation this month, and coffee berries will be purchased from local farmers at a cost of $1,000 per four-gallon buckets.
The farmer also explained to the minister that the factory is a modern one that will process coffee, citrus and cocoa. He said coffee will be processed with the wet-system method. According to the farmer, when the berries are brought into the factory from the farm, they will be washed before going into the pulpier. The farmer explained that after pulping the berries will then be placed into large cans and left for three days, after which it will be washed again and sent to the dryer which will be operated by electricity. The farmer said the drying process will last for one week.
Baksh said the investment is very important because value will be added to the produce and farmers will benefit.

(Rajendra Prabhulall in Essequibo)