Guyana’s agro-processing exports have suffered a decline in value as a result of plummeting international commodity prices over the past two years.
By the end of last year, the volume of agro-processed exports had increased by 54% to 4,795 metric tonnes—valued at $US3.4m—compared with 3,114 metric tonnes in 2005.
Some of the major agro-processed exports include copra, heart of palm, coconut oil, pineapple chunks and sauces. Among the current local agro-processed products are the Topco and Nikki’s fruit juices; Tandy’s jams and jellies; cereals manufactured by Banks DIH Ltd.; as well as pepper sauce and other condiments manufactured by POMPRO. Additionally, the Pomeroon Women’s Agro Processing Association has expanded its range of products to include virgin coconut oil which has secured niche markets in the United States.
Other products with export potential which are reportedly in various stages of development are bottled coconut water as well as dehydrated and other value-added coconut–based products. The local agro-processing sector is also evaluating several products, including cassava, papaw, tomato and various spices, for dehydrated processing through solar drying technology. Processing of spices, including turmeric and ginger, is also expected to begin later this year.
Meanwhile, the New Guyana Marketing Corporation (GMC) has been collaborating with agro-processors in an effort to enhance international market acceptance for locally-produced products through the enhancement of product quality, packaging and labeling. The New GMC has been collaborating with various local and international agencies, including the Trade Facilitation Office of Canada (TFO), the Inter American Institute for Cooperation in Agriculture (IICA) and the Guyana Manufacturers Association (GMA), to facilitate various types of training for agro-processors. On September 15, these agencies will partner to stage a half-day workshop on the labeling and marketing of processed agro products for exports. The workshop, a follow-up to a five-day forum in April, will address issues of labeling and marketing for the export of processed food products and will place particular emphasis on marketing considerations and strategies relative to labeling, methods of labeling, marking and coding packages and importer requirements for local agro-processors with an interest in the Canadian market. Participants in the workshop will benefit from practical reviews of their own labeling methods.
Meanwhile, government says that it is seeking to respond to the recognition of the importance of new markets for the growth and development of the agro-processing sector by embarking on market identification studies aimed at identifying new markets and new products that have export potential. The studies are intended to build on existing market information that is already available at the New GMC.
