A CASSAVA flour processing facility at Kwebanna Village in the Moruca sub-district has been certified by the Government Analyst Food and Drug Department (GA-FDD).

According to a release from the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, subject Minister Valerie Garrido-Lowe recently led a team to Kwebanna Village, which included Ms. Donnette Babb, an inspector from the GA-FDD who conducted a thorough inspection of the facility.
Following the inspection, the official told residents at a general village meeting that “what you have here is a beautiful building. However, the Food and Drug Department looks at your labelling, the process, we test your product from farm to table or from raw materials down to distribution. So we are here along with the environmental officer in Region One to assist you.”

According to the ministry , the project is the realisation of a commitment made by Minister Garrido-Lowe towards helping the Indigenous Peoples raise their standard of living which according to her “makes me enjoy working with them and our President believes that every Guyanese deserves to live a good life no matter where they live.”

The project which is in line with the government’s ‘Green State Development Strategy’ and the Sustainable Development Goals has been receiving tremendous support particularly from villagers who are eager to see operations commence. They have since cultivated more than thirty acres of cassava.

Minister Garrido-Lowe told residents that “in a couple of years your cassava processing facility will evolve into a huge enterprise, because as a country, a rich one too, we have to prepare for the influx of investors who will come. So we don’t want to stop progress.”
Over the years, farmers have been lamenting the limited market opportunities for their produce and with the establishment of this facility, along with three other massive economic projects across the Hinterland, the APNU+AFC Government has responded to their pleas.

Last year, Minister Garrido-Lowe was instrumental in providing technical support to farmers in partnership with the National Agriculture Research and Extension Institute NAREI and Brazils Stem Integrated Production in Agribusiness, SIPA.

The team visited 17 farms in the area over the two-day period and was able to share with farmers improved planting techniques and pest control methods to vastly improve yields.
Minister Garrido-Lowe at the time spoke about the agriculture and tourism potential of the Hinterland as she noted that her function is to put systems in motion to nurture such potential. Kwebanna, which is located along the Waini River, is home to approximately six hundred and fifty residents with its main economic activity being lumbering, farming, traditional fishing and hunting. With the establishment of the Processing Facility, the livelihoods of residents will improve tremendously, the ministry said.