Patrons laud local Agro-processors at UncappeD Marketplace
– over 65 agro-progressors displayed products
– next event to be held in Berbice
DPI, Guyana, Saturday, July 28, 2018
Patrons on Saturday once again turned out in their numbers to support and discover products being made by local agro-processors at the UncappeD Marketplace and food festival. The event was held at the Leonora Synthetic Track, West Coast of Demerara.
Exhibiting products at the event were Diekah’s Spices, Sherl’s Cosmetics, Morning Glory Cereal Factory, Lisa’s Manufacturing and Country Style Delicious biscuits to name a few.
Patron, Suraiya Ramkisson said she was amazed by the range of items local agro-processors exhibit at these homegrown food festivals. “I think this is a really good opportunity for agro-processors. It is a really good forum for the high-quality agro-processors to display their products, and for the other to come up to that standard.”
Sharing the same view was Sunil Oudit: “This is a wonderful initiative I would encourage people to support local. I saw a lot of local products on display that I have not seen before. There were some wonderful products.”
Also taking the opportunity to purchase several of the local goods at the event was Miss Earth Guyana 2018, Xamiera Kippins who commended the initiative. “I think it is a perfect opportunity for the locals to showcase what Guyana has to offer. It shows how blessed we are, and we are very much capable of producing the exact things we would buy in the store from other countries.”
This is the second UncappeD Marketplace event to be held by the Guyana Manufacturing and Service Association (GMSA) in 2018. First Vice-President of GMSA, Ramsay Ali said the association is aiming to host the event throughout various regions in the country.
“This forum was created as an avenue to sell their product. We recognise they (agro-processors) need some support in financing, product development which includes packaging, pricing and market support. So far it has been successful. This time we invited store owners on the West Coast to come and meet some of these local manufacturers in order to garner support for the sale of local products.”
He boasted of improvements made by a number of agro-processors after participating in the event. “If you were to look at the businesses here today and you were to look at them a year ago, you will the see the difference. They have made improvements to their packaging and their products. We will continue events like these.”
According to the Ali, the next UncappeD Marketplace will be held in Berbice in October as part of Agriculture month activities. He explained, the association will have a meeting with the government and agro-processors to discuss the way forward in 2019.
Crystal Stoll
Images: Department of Public Information