Dear Editor,
The Guyana Marketing Corporation wishes to acknowledge with grave concern the article published in Stabroek News dated November 6, 2023, captioned ‘Exporters say opportunities being lost as GMC badly run’.
The feedback provided via the article is invaluable to the Corporation regarding Stakeholders’ perception of its operation and is cognizant of its role in accelerating Guyana’s nontraditional agricultural sector.
Contrary to information peddled in the public domain, the Corporation wishes to assure all stakeholders that The New Guyana Marketing Corporation (NGMC) has gained valuable recognition as we continue to work assiduously to ensure the fulfillment of its mandate.
While most of the statements in the article published are heavily generalized, we would like to inform the public that the New Guyana Marketing Corporation has shown significant improvements in all departments over the past two years.
At the end of 2022, total exports of non-traditional agricultural commodities (fresh and processed) increased by 7.3 percent from its 2019 level of 9,129.1 MT. Of this, regional exports rose by 29.0 percent while extra-regional exports grew by 4.5 percent.
For instance, in Barbados, exports to one of our largest trading partners totaled 700,947 kgs at the end of 2022, surpassing pre-pandemic levels (2019) by 62.9 percent.
From 2021 to the present, The New Guyana Marketing Corporation provided 25,856 interested persons with market information, data, extension, and Agri-Business advice and successfully created a total of 870 new market linkages.
The New Guyana Marketing Corporation has embarked on special projects within the past two years such as the marketing of cut flowers, the Morning Glory cereal, the chicken initiative, egg initiative, garlic sale, sugar sale, farmer’s market, etc.
Apart from the Guyana Shop, there is an aggressive drive countrywide to create more awareness of our local products under the ‘Guyana Shop Corner’ initiative. As of November 6, 2023, there are 64 established units countrywide. Under this initiative, consumers are enjoying easier access to more local agro-processed products with competitive prices. Emerging processors are offered significant marketing opportunities using these corners to promote and sell their products.
The Guyana Shop had an increase of 630 new products and 119 new agro processors for the past two years.
The Guyana Marketing Corporation has been diligently collaborating with farmers and agro-processors, facilitating their participation in expos to showcase their products both locally, regionally, and internationally.
In collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Guyana Marketing Corporation has opted for the opportunity to promote Guyanese products globally and displays are being established at various embassies and consulates. Some of the countries where our products are being displayed are Cuba, China, Barbados, The Bahamas, Trinidad, Brazil, Qatar, Suriname, Kuwait etc.
An Agri-Business Development Unit incubator was created to facilitate farmers and agro-processors to innovative value-added products. Services offered include product development, label designs, printing of labels, certification assistance, packaging materials, preservatives, etc.
The Guyana Marketing Corporation has trained over 3,378 farmers and agro processors from 2021 to July 2023 in various areas such as Cost of Production, Post-Harvest Management, Product Development, Packaging and Labeling, etc.
In response to the allegation that the GM’s delay in providing the necessary data is causing market losses, it is important to clarify that the GM does not engage directly with exporters daily for data requests. As such, Market Information is readily accessible to everyone upon request. Furthermore, each department has a manager and a supporting team that is responsible for ensuring the system runs smoothly and addressing any discrepancies. As per NGMC protocol, if an issue cannot be resolved at the managerial level, it is escalated to the GM for resolution.
To this end, the management of NGMC has not received any complaints from the Packaging Facility Manager who deals directly with the exporters. The said manager also stated that she is unaware of any such complaints.
GMC maintains a comprehensive market information system that collates data from various markets and production data.
We have expanded and modernized the Central Packaging Facility in Sophia, Georgetown to create more opportunities for exporters. This includes upgraded technologies and internationally certified systems to ensure exceptional quality and traceability.
After extensive public consultation, GMC has established thirteen processing and packaging facilities in multiple regions. These facilities are equipped with modern equipment to support local entrepreneurs, reduce operational costs, and minimize agricultural wastage. The new Sophia Packaging Facility was built to accommodate high-value crops such as broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, bell peppers, ginger, limes, etc with chiller rooms and fresh produce processing area to meet export requirements.
The Guyana Marketing Corporation’s Extension department is responsible for coordinating with farmers to expand their production to meet the requirements of the market needs. It is within the scope of that department to ensure that every aspect of agriculture production is recorded and archived so that market linkages can be readily facilitated. Additionally, any challenges encountered can be addressed by the Extension manager or escalated to the level of the GM if necessary.
The Guyana Marketing Corporation (GMC) is a government agency dedicated to promoting and facilitating the development of agricultural markets in Guyana. GMC plays a vital role in advancing the agro-processing industry and enhancing food security in the nation.
In closing, the New Guyana Marketing Corporation reiterates its commitment to this mandate, and management remains open to feedback and collaboration with exporters and other stakeholders to better serve the interests of Guyana’s agricultural community.
Our office is located at the Ministry of Agriculture Complex, GUYSUCO Compound, La Bonne Intention, East Coast Demerara.
We can also be contacted via telephone number 220-5522 or e-mail at tlall@newgmc.com
For more information about the New Guyana Marketing Corporation and its services, visit our website at www.newgmc.gov.gy.
Yours faithfully,
Teshawna Lall,
General Manager
New GMC