SN: Historically, Guyana’s agro produce have frequently met with product presentation (packaging and labeling) challenges in their quest for acceptance on the external market. As far as you are aware how well-received were our local agro products at the recent Barbados Agro Fest event?
RK: They were extremely well received. In fact they were a resounding success given the short time we had for preparation since GSMA had to respond to two other initiatives prior to the Barbados event. Here I am talking about Uncapped 111 event and the Agri Investment Forum and Expo. Had it not been for those two prior events we would have seen greater participation in Barbados. The limited preparation time, notwithstanding, I think that the exhibitors did extremely well. I should let you know that the exhibitors went to the Agri-Fest with some expectations of their own. Their primary objective was to make business to business expectations, to attempt to make connections with Dealers, Traders or Importers in Barbados. While we were unable to accomplish this objective during the period of the Agri. Fest event the Barbadian businesses – wholesalers and traders subsequently contacted the GSMA indicating that there were some products that they wished to purchase. What the Agri-Fest did was to create the opportunity for reviews of the products. This was ‘beneficial to the Guyanese exhibitors because it put them ikn a position to know what their potential customers were looking for. I understand that the Agri – fest is the most attended event. We estimated that around 30,000 persons attended the event. About 3,000 of these visited our Guyana Booth, interacted with the producers and purchased products. from the Guyana booths. I should also let you know that about 98% of our exhibitors’ products were sold out. A forty foot container of Art and Craft, Agro Produce, and jewelry Furniture was sent to Barbados. All of these products were sold out the first day. There were other products there too…….. Black Cake, Spices, Pepper Sauce, Skin Care Products and beverages, among others. Many of these products were actually bought by Guyanese living in Barbados. Guyanese Black Cake actually sold quite well and I understand that the vendor will soon have a representative to sell her Blackcake. While some of the exhibitors were looking forward to business to business engagement, it was a blessings in disguise that the customers were able to engaged the exhibitors because it helped the exhibitors to understand the consumers taste and habits and desirability and they got immediate feedback about their products. On the whole it was a more than useful opportunity for our visitors to understand the Barbados consumer.
P.S: As far as you are aware were there any agreements reached, contracts signed?
RK: The GSMA organized meetings with the various distributors and the Guyanese Agro- processors. They are now talking about things like shipping. There are also some prior packaging and labelling issues to be sorted out. Some of the brands that have been involved in these discussions were S & S Natural Fruit Flavours, Annie’s Products, Hair Products, Diekah’s Spices, Only Coconuts and Essence of Herbs. These brands have already secur-ed distribution opportunities in Barbados. The Agro Processors and the distributors in Barbados will now begin the various other negotiations.
The GSMA was happy to provide the exposure and the Association would be happy to become involved with other similar ventures.
We’ll be working alongside the various businesses in the event that there are challenges associated with things like barriers to movement of goods and logistics. We’re also available to provide support with packaging and Labeling issues.
PS: Market access has always – for one reason or another – been a challenge to intra-regional trade. To what extent has the way been cleared at the level of market access for local Agro Processors to make a significant breakthrough on the Barbadian market?
Rafeek Khan: The Government of Barbados and the Government of Guyana share an Accord, the St. Barnabas Accord, an instrument that responds to those issues. Agro processing and agriculture are just two of the issues under the umbrella of the Accord. At the level of the GMSA level we would like to support our members in areas where we feel confident. We feel comfortable with those areas in which our members are already involved. The St Barnabas Accord has as one of its objectives, an increase in trade between these two countries.
PS. What are the procedures to be followed and regulations to be satisfied in order for Agro-processed goods from Guyana to secure access to the Barbados market? AND what role is the GMSA playing in ensuring that our Agro-processors meet those requirements?
Rafeek Khan: This is a work in process. We will be working with the agro processors to assist them in any way possible.
PS Local agro processors, particularly at the micro and small levels, have been, for years, complaining about the need for support with manufacturing facilities where they can manufacture their products. This matter has been engaging the attention of the GMSA for some time. Can you say whether any progress is being made in setting up modest but efficient manufacturing facilities in the various regions to help the Agro Processors raise their game?.
RK: I am aware that the government is setting up some industrial sites across the country
PS: It is felt that if our agro processors, particularly the smaller ones, want to raise their game, there is a need for training in a number of areas including quality standards. Does the GMSA have a training curriculum for agro processors in areas that include quality standards? If not, are there any plans for such an undertaking?
Communication Officer: There is no training curriculum for Agro Processors. We are working towards having more strategic resources including our website for our members and other parties who are desirous of using the resources. We are also working with GNBS to have companies with the certificates of Product of Guyana, you will be hearing more about this from us very soon. These resources will also be available to non – members. The GMSA , through the Secretariat has expertise and skills within the association and also at the Board level to lend support training whenever the need arises. We have members who have special skills. We have asked them to train other members in various areas.
PS: Given the critical role it seeks to play in providing financing for owners of one type of small business or another, do you think that the GMSA ought to ensure that there is some kind of small business representation at the level of the Small Business Bureau?
Rafeek Khan: No, we are not on the board, but we play a critical role and I think we should be on the board. I never thought about it but I will ask about that. Good suggestion, I will work towards it.
PS: How optimistic are you that we are moving in the right direction in terms of the development of the Agro-Processing sector AND What specific initiatives would you wish to see taken in the short to medium term to further advance the development of the sector?
Rafeek Khan: The challenges have increased over the years. There are no simple solutions for agriculture and agro processing primarily because of of natural occurrences – we have depletion of soil quality, climate change increased rainfall. These are apart from high costs of production. We need to be more competitive.
PS:. For many years local agro-processors, particularly small scale producers, have been complaining about a lack of support from the major Business Support Organizations. Would you say that the Barbados Agro Fest event opened the doors to an enhanced relationship between the GMSA and some of those small and micro businesses that got the opportunity to participate in the event?
RK:I think if a company has excellent products, there are potential investors looking earnestly for some of those companies. There is a shortage of food in other parts of the world and investors are looking for opportunities to invest. Guyana has huge potential for trade good products there are potential investors that are looking to invest. We would like to challenge private sector business to be bold and take the next step and seek investors to partner with to help build capacity. We can identify about a dozen businesses that are members. The GMSA is prepared to negotiate with investors on the individuals’ behalf if they so desire. Many of our members indicated that they would like to concentrate on what they do best, that is make the product. There are many services in our Association where members can get the support that they need to be able to take it to the next step.
