Minister of Agriculture Mustapha Zulfikar has announced that Region Two will be benefiting from two agro-processing facilities that will be located at Anna Regina and Charity and will afford farmers the opportunity to add value to their produce.
Mustapha was at the time speaking at a community meeting held at Johanna Cecilia during Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo’s outreach. He disclosed that the agro-processing facility at Anna Regina is almost complete while another will be constructed at Charity. Further, he noted that in the past, these facilities would be located in urban communities with rural farmers often not being able to conveniently access them.
The minister mentioned that since he assumed office, his policy is to ensure that such facilities are made available to rural communities in regions Two, Six, Nine, and Ten.
“We have to change the culture; the farmers after reaping will be allowed to add value at these facilities and will be able to get more money,” Mustapha declared.
He mentioned that during his recent visit to Barbados, that country had expressed interest in purchasing products such as lime and pepper from Guyana. He explained to the gathering that the boost in trade will expand markets for farmers and with the agro-processing facilities, farmers would be able to add value to their produce.
The facilities will also provide a hygienic environment for farmers to package and label their products. The Guyana Marketing Corporation (GMC), he noted, is tasked with ensuring that once the products go to the agro-processing facilities, there exists markets for them.
“The GMC will find buyers for farmers, you as farmers would be able to bottle your pepper and be able to earn additional dollars for the product… all this is adding value.”
The agro-processing facility in Charity will afford farmers in the Pomeroon River communities, the opportunity to process and label their products, while utilising modern technologies.
Farmers who were at the meeting applauded the move and commented that once the services are available they would definitely utilise them.
