Government would be building two more packaging facilities at Charity and in Berbice to cater for the export of fruits and vegetables under its agricultural diversification project.
A Government Informa-tion Agency (GINA) press release said the buildings, to be located in Region Two and at the Number 43 Village, Corentyne, follow on the heels of plans to set up a large facility at Parika, East Bank Demerara.
All of the facilities will cater for the processing and packaging of fresh fruits and vegetables for export and are intended to promote the non-traditional crop sector as a means of creating employment, increasing income and foreign exchange.
Plans are moving ahead to convert the Number 43 Village Fisheries Complex into a packaging facility for non-traditional produce from Region Six. GINA said the project is being undertaken through the Poor Rural Communities Support Services Project and estimates have been done and funding is being sought for its implementation. The Region Six administration, the New Guyana Marketing Corporation and farmers will be asked to assist.
GINA said a smaller facility will be set up at Charity to benefit Pomeroon River and surrounding communities’ farmers. Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud said a larger building should be erected at Charity to boost export activities and promote the processing of fresh fruits and vegetables from which they can increase their earnings. Produce is already being exported directly from Charity to Barbados. He said the facilities at the various locations are primarily for export and it is expected that they will be accredited to meet international sanitary and phyto-sanitary requirements.
The Parika building will cater for the washing, cleaning, waxing and cool-storing of fruits before they are exported to the Caribbean. Special emphasis will be placed on pumpkins, peppers, plantains and pineapples which are highlighted in the agricultural diversification plan. GINA said the contract for this project, estimated to cost $230M, is likely to be awarded shortly. This sum also caters for the construction of a concrete wharf to accommodate large vessels to transport the produce from the pack house directly to countries where markets are available.
