Inaugural Agrifest to culminate Agri Month 2009
- ativity to be annual feature, advancing local produce to international markets
Georgetown, GINA, August 19, 2009
The Guyana Marketing Corporation (GMC), an agency of the Ministry of Agriculture, as part of its project to promote locally grown and manufactured products, today launched the inaugural Agrifest – Guyana's Premier Agriculture Trade and Investment Festival – at the Ministry's boardroom.
In his brief remarks, Minister of Agriculture, Robert Persaud, stated that it is customary for the sector, in observance of Agriculture Month in October, to showcase the achievements of the sector and to give farmers, agro-processors, among other stakeholders, an opportunity to showcase their products and interact with consumers, exporters and others who may be interested. Agrifest 2009, which will be held on October 30 and 31 at the Guyana National Stadium, will seek to promote the sale and consumption of local produce in a more robust way.
Banner of Agrifest 2009
While Agri Month activities are a celebration of the achievements of the sector within the previous year, an activity the likes of Agrifest serves to engage the attention of the Caribbean Region and beyond, generating market access and demand for local products. It also aims to create an awareness of the new technologies used in agriculture – all essential to the expansion and modernisation path upon which the sector has embarked.
There has been a deepening relationship between Brazil and Guyana, and with the completion of the Takutu Bridge, a new trade frontier is made possible. Access to Brazilian markets is one of the ultimate goals of Agrifest and all other congruent initiatives of the Ministry.
Agrifest will be made an annual feature of Agri Month, and will entail a rich cultural component, providing entertainment for all the stakeholders who would have worked hard and demonstrated great dedication – the bedrock of this thriving sector.
Some products at the launch of Agrifest 2009
Being of both a business and an entertainment nature, Agrifest will also facilitate a Farmers' Competition whose winner will be the recipient of a prize valued $3M. This prize will serve as an additional incentive to motivate farmers to continue their hard work to build the sector, and Guyana by extension. It is also hoped that the activity will be a gateway for new entrants into the sector.
General Manager of GMC, Nizam Hassan, explained that Agrifest is the result of a continuing evolution of the grand effort to promote local products, in keeping with the agency's mission to facilitate and coordinate the development of quality non-traditional agriculture produce for export. Guyana Night, the Grow More Food campaign and the Grow More Food Festival are its predecessors.
Hassan added that aside of the public and private sectors stakeholders, Agrifest will attract participation from states within the Caribbean Region and South America. This will create the opportunity for an international appreciation of the fact that Guyana is indeed the place where investment in agriculture and outsourcing agricultural produce are lucrative endeavours.
Senior Marketing Officer of GMC, Christopher Chapwanya, expressed optimism that Agrifest, over the two days, will attract an estimated 30,000 participants. He stated that there will be a significant Brazilian presence, with its food and ‘clean' entertainment. Tickets for adults and children will each cost $500 and $300 respectively, while uniformed students, accompanied by teachers, will gain free entrance on the first day.
Minister of Agriculture, Robert Persaud, members of the Guyana Marketing Corporation (GMC) and private sector officials at the launch of Agrifest 2009
Manager of AINLIM Agri Centre, Alvin Parag, in an invited comment, reiterated the private sector's commitment to Agrifest. He stated that the conceived role of the private sector is to forge stronger relations among stakeholders, a cornerstone of sustainable agriculture in the context of food security.
Executive Director of the Forest Products Development and Marketing Council (FPDMC), Derrick Cummings, also registered his organisation's pleasure in being involved in this collaborative effort, and assured that FPDMC will be promoting items, especially the lesser-used species and value-added products, and will encourage producers and craftsmen and others within the forest industry to be involved.
Considering the close to 50% increase in export within the first five months following last year's Grow More Food Festival, it is envisaged that Agrifest will open the doors for export of the greater quantity of fruits and vegetables which will be proliferated by the momentum the sub-sector has been gaining in recent months.
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