Feedback realised by the Stabroek Business from frequent interaction with local agro-processors point to what they believe is a lack of structured official support for opening avenues that would allow for greater access to markets both in the region and beyond.
Discussants on the issue of expanding markets for what one agro-processor told this newspaper was the high-quality agro-produce being turned out by local enterprises, contend that some of the areas in which the sector is in need of more significant state support are domestic and international marketing of the sector and becoming ‘technically involved’ in raising standards in the sector.
Asked to define the concept of technical support in the context of the agro-processing sector, one contributor pointed to the need for government to invest in training for local agro-processors “to bring us to the level where our brands can compete with the best in the world,” while another said that the popularisation of Guyana brands required more investment in providing support for local agro-processors participating in “high-profile” international agro-processing product promotion events.