THE Government and UMAMI, a local manufacturer, have collaborated to open a modern cash crop processing facility in Mibicuri, Black Bush Polder.
This advanced facility produces pickled ochro, wiri wiri peppers, bitter gourd (karila), cucumbers, and hot peppers, using crops from farmers in Black Bush Polder and nearby communities.

Back in 2021, the local manufacturing company signed on as investor for the construction of a multimillion-dollar agro-processing facility at Black Bush Polder, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne).

The project was in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture.
The facility was touted to contribute the increased production of value-added products in Guyana for both domestic consumption and export purposes.
In a previous report, Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha, had disclosed government’s plans to establish several agro-processing facilities at “agriculture hubs” across the country.
“Many times, we found farmers doing something called subsistence farming, from the farm to the market and we are not getting the real value for the produce, and we, as a government, we want to ensure that we provide the necessary facilities and we help these farmers so that they can have more value for their produce,” Minister Mustapha related.

Specifically in the Black Bush area, he said farmers will have the opportunity to process their produce and convert it to a product of quality that is ready for domestic and foreign markets.
The company has worked with local farmers to enhance shelf-life of products and limit the amount of spoilage.