Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha yesterday commissioned Guyana’s first public dehydration facility at Hope Estate on the East Coast of Demerara.
The $17.3m facility is set to benefit over 200 persons including farmers, agro-processors, women, youth, and other stakeholders, a release from the Ministry of Agriculture said.
With a production capacity of 80 kg/hr. or 192,000 kg per month, the Hope Estate Dehydration Facility forms part of the government’s efforts to support the reduction of the local and regional food import bill by enhancing the preservation and quality of locally produced fruits and vegetables.
“We recognize that, over the years, Guyana has been a primary producer of many products. Our farmers and other producers within the country are only producing primary products. For instance, we are growing and exporting oranges but we are buying orange juice. Because of that, we are not competitive because we are moving our products from the farm straight to the market rather than processing these products and making them value-added. Projects like these are geared towards enhancing the farmer’s income because they can bring their fruits and vegetables here, process them so that you can get the true value for them,” he said.
General Manager of the New Guyana Marketing Corporation, Teshawna Lall said the facility positions Guyana to meet the rising regional and international demand for dehydrated fruits in keeping with CARICOM’s goal to boost production, and ultimately reduce the regional import bill by 25% by 2025.
“As dehydration technology continues to gain traction as a viable post-harvest solution in Guyana, this facility will play a pivotal role in the comprehensive development of agriculture not only in Region 4 but across the nation. By extending the shelf life of fruits, vegetables, and other produce, we will significantly reduce post-harvest losses, lessen our reliance on imports, and strengthen food security by ensuring a steady supply of high-quality, locally produced food year-round,” she said.
The new facility is equipped with two state-of-the-art electric dehydrators, each featuring 80 trays designed for uniform drying of a variety of agricultural produce, including fruits, vegetables, and ground provisions. their essential nutrients, including vitamins and minerals, making them a nutritious option.
