— as President Ali pushes student-made products towards commercial markets

GUYANA’S schoolchildren are turning farm produce into marketable products, from turmeric soap and pineapple sauce to banana ketchup, through an agro-processing summer camp now reaching 49 schools nationwide.
Now in its fourth year, the skills-based programme has grown from just 10 to 12 participating schools to almost 50, offering training in agro-processing, visual arts, catering, industrial technology, building technology and furniture making, mainly for Grade Nine and Ten students.
The camps are rooted in the Caribbean Vocational Qualification (CVQ) framework and are designed to give teenagers practical skills and exposure to real business opportunities.
Addressing students from The Bishops’ High School, J.C. Chandisingh Secondary and Canje Secondary, President Dr Irfaan Ali praised the initiative for reshaping how young people view agriculture.
“I’m very, very happy today that I’m meeting so many young kids from our school system who see agriculture as not only feeding our country but an enormous business opportunity,” the Head of State said.
He also commended teachers and coordinators for linking the camp to financing opportunities through the Guyana Development Bank, saying the early exposure went beyond classroom learning.
“They saw the opportunity in the Guyana Development Bank, and they have now brought you onto that opportunity from a very early stage. This will not only teach you; it will teach you responsibility, financial management, entrepreneurship. It will teach you how to work as a group, how to build companies, how to be innovative and creative, and that’s exactly what we want.”
The Government’s goal, he stated, is to replicate similar programmes across the country.
Students used the forum to present a range of value-added agro-products, all developed during the camp.
A Bishops’ High School student outlined products made from farm produce to extend shelf life and add value.
“At the camp, we learned about what agro-processing is and what makes it important. Agro-processing is when we take produce from the farm and we make products to extend their shelf life and their value,” the student said.
Among the products showcased was turmeric soap, made with a melt-and-pour base, turmeric powder and lemon scent. It was promoted for cleansing the skin, removing dead skin and leaving a fresh citrus scent after bathing.
Another product was made using a blend of coconut oil and rosemary oil, with lemon or lavender added for fragrance. A student explained that the coconut oil acts as a base, allowing compounds from the rosemary to nourish the scalp and encourage hair growth and strength.
Another product was chilli pepper flakes, produced by drying market-bought peppers in a dehydrator before grinding and packaging them. Students said this process can increase the pepper’s shelf life by at least six months and up to a year.
Other products included banana ketchup, a twist on the traditional tomato condiment.
FROM CLASSROOM TO SUPERMARKET SHELVES
Looking ahead, President Ali pledged to work with all 49 participating schools, the Guyana Development Bank and the New Guyana Marketing Corporation to move student products beyond the classroom.
“I’m going to work with these 49 schools to see how, in the Development Bank, we can create opportunities, and the [Marketing] Corporation can be one of the off-takers,” the President said, adding that there were also plans to engage supermarkets.
The vision includes displaying items such as soaps and food products at airports and supermarkets nationwide, with dedicated sections promoting the work of students.
“We can also talk to some of the supermarkets to carry a special shelf that says ‘Made by the children of Guyana’, and you can have those stuff on those shelves. This is amazing. I’m so proud of all of you. You guys are exceptional,” the President said.
President Ali also highlighted the strong participation of girls and women in the agro-processing push, linking it to broader national trends in female agricultural entrepreneurship.
“I’m also so proud to see so many females involved, more females than males actually,” the Head of State said, noting that about 35 per cent of new farms and almost 80 per cent of agro-processing facilities are now owned by women.