The Mocha Arcadia Multi-Purpose Agricultural Co-operative Society (MAMPA) will be hosting the village’s first Market Day on Sunday from 6am.
The event is motivated by the Co-op Society’s thrust to secure markets for its fresh produce and other goods produced in the community, a press release from the International Decade for People of African Descent Assembly – Guyana (IDPADA-G).
It said all participating producers are residents of Mocha Arcadia, a historically predominantly African Guyanese village where farming is the main economic activity, with specialties including organic fruits, vegetables, spices, poultry, craft production and agro-processing.
Although the products are of the highest quality, the remoteness of the village has made marketing a challenge, the release noted.
As a result, the Co-op society and villagers saw the need to redouble their efforts to establish a marketplace where farmers’ produce can be promoted and sold reasonably, hence the first Market Day.
The release noted that IDPADA-G, the Mocha Arcadia Neighbourhood Democratic Council, the Region Four Regional Democratic Council, the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) and the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) have partnered with the MAMPA Co-operative Society to ensure the success of the initiative.
Towards this end, major steps, including the clearing of a space for vendors to display their produce, have been undertaken. Some of the farmers/vendors have also undergone training provided by the Guyana School of Agriculture and the New Guyana Marketing Cooperation to learn how to produce the village’s newest delicacy, “chicken ham”, as well as the art of labeling their goods effectively.
The Mocha Arcadia Market Day will begin at 6am and will continue throughout the day. Booths are to be assembled at the second bridge of the Mocha Main Access Road. Members of the public are invited to come out and support this grand event and purchase fruits, vegetables, spices, pastries, craft, horticultural items, meat, and meat products like, “chicken ham”!
Strict COVID-19 measures will be in place to maintain the safety of patrons and persons planning to attend are reminded to wear a mask. To promote efficiency in the services being offered, persons may also pre-order items and have them delivered to their homes. Contact the MAMPA Co-operative Society via Facebook or on the phone numbers 685-3271 and 688-6200.
