Farmers in the Mainstay/Whyaka Village, Region Two, are set to hold talks with Amazon Caribbean Guyana Limited (AMCAR) towards revitalising the pineapple industry, the Department of Public Information (DPI) has reported.
A DPI news release said the decision was taken during a community meeting held at the Mainstay Multi-Purpose Hall near Lake Mainstay, which was attended by Minister within the Ministry of Finance Jaipaul Sharma; Minister within the Ministry of Social Protection Keith Scott; Minister of Social Cohesion Dr George Norton; Member of Parliament Mervyn Williams and Toshao of Mainstay/Whyaka Milton Fredericks.
A pineapple farmer, who attended the meeting, raised the issue and pleaded with the officials present to consider giving them grants to help purchase the supplies necessary to restart the industry.
Williams, in response to the farmers’ calls for a rebirth of the industry said, “The suggestion is that we re-engage the Amazon Caribbean Guyana Limited, the company that has the expertise to treat with the preservation and packaging of pineapples…They are willing to meet with the village leaders to discuss the possibilities of resuscitation.” He added, “I believe, if we get women’s groups and youth groups within the village and expand, or open new lands for the cultivation while we talk with the company, I believe that this can be resuscitated within a very short period of time – and the opportunity also avails itself for nearby villages to benefit.”
Based on the MP’s proposal, it was agreed that the village leaders once again meet with the AMCAR team and work towards negotiating terms for the resuscitation of the industry. Minister of Social Cohesion, Dr George Norton, suggested that the meeting be held before the end of June, to which the Toshao and farmers also agreed.
Williams disclosed that this idea was intended since the tenure of the previous Toshao, however it did not receive a favourable response at that time, which lead to a cessation of talks between the company and the village leaders.
The release added that in 2014, AMCAR had announced that it would no longer process pineapples for export to its European market as its contract with the Mainstay/Whyaka farmers had come to an end following disagreements between the suppliers and company.
