21 farmers, agro-processors benefit from GMC training

The Guyana Marketing Corporation (GMC) has held a virtual training in social media marketing for farmers and agro-processors to help them find new ways to promote their businesses during the pandemic.

Twenty-one farmers and agro-processors participated in the exercise, which was held on Tuesday.

The GMC usually hosts exhibitions and provides other opportunities for farmers and agro-processors to advertise their products. However, this was halted in keeping with the COVID-19 precautionary measures.

“We recognise that social media, though it has been around for a while, offers a unique way for persons to safely market their product and produce. As such, we designed a social media marketing session so that farmers and agro-processors can learn how to use this medium to sell their products and produce in a safe and affordable way,” GMC Public Relations Officer, Ms. Shevon Nedd said.

Ms. Hannah van Buckley, Marketing Officer in the GMC’s Market Analysis Department hosted the training.

She said the main objective of the exercise was “to develop an understanding of how to create and effectively use social media platforms.”

This includes teaching participants how to use various advertising sites to market their products or services effectively; to generate new leads for their businesses through advertising and to strengthen their engagement strategies to increase customer loyalty.

Meanwhile, Mr. Fendel Etwaroo of Onecart, during his presentation said his business assists local start-ups in Guyana with marketing. Right now, he said, businesses can sign up for free.  

“It [is going to] be free until we decide that we are going to charge either a monthly fee or a commission. The thing is we want to see how the local merchants, how they are actually performing on the platform,” he said.

Ms. Rodiek-ah De Freitas, the CEO of Diekah Spices, who participated in the training, said it will give her insight on innovative ways to market her products and foster collaboration with other enterprises to develop more awareness of her product and brand.

Mr. Aditya Persaud, of Arya’s Fresh Cut, was also among the panellists at the training.

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