WITH food security being one of the main goals for the government, the Ministry of Labour on Saturday hosted a co-operative market day to not only showcase the array of top-notch local products, but also provide small-scale businesses with a platform to display their creativity.

Present at the market day was Labour Minister Joseph Hamilton, who told the Sunday Chronicle that the initiative indicates to the populace that they can play a pivotal role in aiding President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali’s “25 by 2025” food security goal, while revolutionsing the agriculture and agro-processing sectors.
Noting that the co-operative societies have thousands of acres of land within their possession, but it is not being utilised properly, the minister said: “As Guyanese, and as a government, we cannot afford for that to continue, so this activity here is trying to stir and to promote.”

He added, “[It’s] to have people who are involved in a co-operative to think differently; to think outside of the box, to recognise that they could make a substantial contribution to national development, and support the government food security programme.”
According to the Labour Minister, efforts are underway to get more young people interested in the “co-op movement.” He said the ministry is working vigorously to show young people that the agriculture sector is not “back-breaking”, but is poised for a bright future with the use of revolutionary technology.

Meanwhile, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Guyana School of Agriculture (GSA) Gavin Ramnarine said the organisation wants to edify the public on their large variety of local products, which, according to him, is second to none.
“I think these initiatives [market day] are extremely useful,” Ramnarine said, explaining that although Guyanese are aware that the nation is capable of manufacturing local products, they are unaware of the quantity and the quality of them.

“It always amazes me at the endless supply of food we have, and these things encourage Guyanese to buy local things. We don’t have to import anything; we literally live in a place where everything grows,” Ramnarine contended.
At the market day, the GSA provided an assortment of fresh vegetables, ranging from bora to pepper, along with freshly-plucked chickens, fresh milk, breadfruit flour, and even baby porridge.

CREATIVITY IN LOCAL INDUSTRIES
In an effort to bring that milky goodness that Guyanese would indulge in during the Christmas season, Dixie Jordan, owner and founder of Dixie’s Punch de Crème, displayed a variety of crème liqueurs at the market day.
“It’s about the spices we all grew up knowing and enjoying, with a nice, creamy base,” Jordan said, noting that within the assortment of crème liqueurs, there is a ‘capadulla’ flavour.

“It’s about promoting the produce that we have here in Guyana, and presenting it in a way where everyone can enjoy,” she said, adding that although there is the medicinal and wine form of capadulla, this might not suit everyone, and, therefore, she saw it fit to create a capadulla crème liqueur.
Moreover, Fay Greaves, owner and founder of the growing business called “Jofa Products”, remarked that she was thrilled to be a part of the market day initiative.

Ranging from sweet-pepper jelly, pepper stew, and a range of sauces, the Sophia resident said that while growing up, her grandmother used to make the sweet-pepper jelly, however, she was not fond of it, but as she got older and started to expand her culinary skills, she developed a formula that she and many Guyanese households grew to love.

Hoping to show that even while out of town, one can still locate fresh and vibrant vegetables, Komal Kumarlalbihari, Chairman of the Bath Development Co-operative Society told the Sunday Chronicle that while sales are important, his main objective was to market his organisation. Conveying the fact that the Bath Co-operative Society supports the President’s goal of making Guyana food secure, Kumarlalbihari said: “Food is important, and we want to meet the demands of the people,” pointing out that at the top of the organisation’s agenda is to ensure that there is enough food for Guyanese and even to export.

Meanwhile, consumers were seen flocking the various booths in light of the great bargains to be had. In fact, Adeola Griffith, who hails from Prospect, on the East Bank of Demerara, shared that she was thrilled to support her fellow Guyanese.
“The Market Day really helps to promote local businesses [and] small farmers, [so] they can actually come out and market their products,” she said, adding that in the long-run, this will help to boost Guyana’s economy.