-Agriculture Minister says growing support is driving plans to expand initiative nationwide
WITH more shoppers continuing to show their support and more vendors seeking to be a part of the initiative, the Government’s Farmers Market is gaining momentum as the Ministry of Agriculture seeks to provide consumers with access to produce at lower prices while creating additional opportunities for farmers and small business owners.
Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha, on Wednesday, during a walkthrough of the market held in the compound of the National Exhibition Centre in Sophia, said the increased participation from both consumers and vendors has demonstrated the impact of the initiative, which is intended to help ease the pressure of food prices and the wider cost of living.
He noted that the market will be expanded beyond its current location at the Sophia Exhibition Centre, with similar activities expected to be rolled out in other regions across the country.
Speaking during a recent visit, Mustapha noted that the initiative is intended to be a key tool in helping consumers manage the cost of living. He explained that the initiative aims to provide Guyanese with a new avenue to buy produce at lower prices.
“We are looking forward for these activities to be a regular activity so that we can help cushion the cost of products and the cost of living in our country,” he said. The minister further stated that the response to the market has been encouraging, with significantly more people supporting the market since it was opened earlier this month. The market will be open to the public every Wednesday for the remainder of the month as part of Agriculture Month activities.
The minister emphasised that the growing turnout was a sign that consumers are becoming more aware of the lower prices that the initiative provides. Moreover, the increased consumer interest has encouraged more vendors to participate, allowing the market to offer a wider range of produce and other goods.
According to Mustapha, the growing participation is creating benefits on both sides of the market, with consumers being able to access better prices while vendors are able to benefit from the increased activity. “We have three times the people who were here last week and that is showing an impact because now it is catching on. People are coming out, but the main thing is they are coming out to enjoy a better price,” he said adding, “Also more vendors have turned out this week because they also are enjoying a better price so on both sides we have a win-win situation where the consumer they are getting a better price for the produce they are purchasing and also the vendors are getting a price so it is a good situation,” he said.
The minister highlighted that this positive response has demonstrated potential for the initiative to become a regular feature. For this reason, plans are afoot to implement the initiative in other parts of the country, with the Agriculture Minister citing plans for Farmers Markets to be held at least once monthly in other regions.
He said the ministry intends to promote similar activities in Regions Five, Six, Three and Two, allowing consumers in different communities to benefit from the initiative, while providing additional opportunities for vendors and farmers across the country.
“We will do this across the country now, so we will replicate this in other regions around the country at least once monthly,” Mustapha said. The expansion aims to ensure that the initiative can reach more communities and provide newer opportunities for people to purchase local produce.
Moreover, the minister said small businesses and other vendors still interested in participating can contact the Ministry of Agriculture or the Guyana Marketing Corporation (GMC).
He added that interested persons can use the ministry’s Facebook page and telephone contact or reach out to the GMC to obtain information about participating. Additionally, the opportunity is still available for vendors to attend the market with their produce. The minister noted that provisions have been made to ensure their participation.
“I have instructed that they make provision for people who turn up with their produce so that we can expand [and] keep expanding the market,” he said.
He added that officers from the GMC and Ministry of Agriculture would be available at the market to assist vendors. “They can also turn up here. You have the officers from GMC and the ministry of agriculture will welcome them here with open arms and they will have facility to put out the stuff to sell,” Minister Mustapha said.
