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11TH SEPTEMBER 2006
MEDIA RELEASE
Non Traditional Agricultural Products Guyana’s Next Agricultural Frontier

1. The NCS Non Traditional Agricultural Products Action Group has collaborated with USAID/GTIS to organise a set of activities, at a cost of US$200,000, aimed at the following:

a. Improving quality through better post harvest handling, by providing

• Field crates to be used to pack and transport fresh produce from farm gate to packhouse
• Improved quality cartons to pack and transport fresh produce from packhouse to market;
• Building Cold Storage facilities at GMC’s Central Packaging Facility as well as at the airport.

b. Developing products that have been identified as products with potential for growth

• Hot Pepper
  A hot pepper market for 10,000 lbs of hot pepper has been secured in North America. A pilot project has started whereby at least five farmers from Parika, Laluni, Bath Settlement, Black Bush Polder and Crabwood creek will be given 1,000 pepper plants to cultivate.

NARI and GMC will provide technical and market extension services to the farmers.

• Trade shows

Two trade shows have been targeted for attendance:

Fresh Summit- to be held in San Diego, California, USA from October 20 – 24, 2006.

Canadian Produce Marketing Association, Montreal, Quebec, Canada – May 9-11, 2007.

Farmers, exporters and representatives from Government agencies will be taken to these shows to meet with buyers.

Between 8 – 10 persons will attend these shows.

From participation in these shows new contacts will be had and from these contacts new projects will be developed.

2. In addition an Action Plan has been submitted to Ministry of Agriculture for onward forwarding to the IDB.

This is also a US$ 200,000.00 plan over the next two and a half years.

This Action Plan proposes activities that include the promotion of specialized commercial farms, the promotion of contract farming, embedding exports in strong export clusters, contract labeling and the promotion of active producer and exporter associations.

• Examine the successes behind the Heart of Palm, coconut milk and coconut oil. How are the clusters for these three products managed? What are the key elements for their success?
• Study and promote successful model contracts.
• Examine the costs of production of products (especially plantains, pumpkins, pineapple and peppers) in various producing areas.
• Examine the costs of production of soybean and promote its production if feasible.
• Examine the cost effectiveness of Green Houses and promote if cost effective for Guyanese farmers.
• Conceptualize how to have an effective Extension Service. Address the question of Motivation. Examine the success of the “Chilean model”.
• Investigate the most cost effective way(s) of transporting produce from producing areas.
• Conduct and Air and Sea Transport study for Guyana’s non-traditional agricultural produce to preferred markets.
• Develop training videos for the 4P’s starting for land selection to marketing in the overseas country. Follow the distribution channel overseas.
• Update the market studies for Barbados, Trinidad, St Martin, Antigua, St. Lucia, Canada and USA. Focus specifically on buyers and requirements for the 4P’s.
• Develop promotional materials: brochures, infomercials.
• Conduct visits to market places overseas. Take farmers on these visits.
• Promote the “Guyana Brand”.
• Promote the formation of producer and exporter associations. Provide training to build their leadership and management skills.
• Conduct Training sessions for cluster members throughout the execution of this Action Plan. Encourage the use of the internet as a source of information.