The Social Protection Ministry will be collaborating with the Institute of Applied Science and Technology (IAST) to provide jobs for the residents of Hiawa village. Plans are underway to establish a production facility for orange marmalade in the village.
Hiawa is a small Indigenous community located in Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo), with a population of about 400 persons. The residents are mostly involved in citrus farming. Oranges are usually harvested by the thousands
Director ofthe Institute for Applied Science and Technology (IAST) Dr. Suresh Narine displaying a sample of orange marmalade
and sold to other villages.
The former Social Cohesion Minister, Amna Ally, now Social Protection Minister, during a visit in 2016, had proposed the establishment of a unit to produce marmalade – a preservative made from citrus fruits, especially bitter oranges, prepared like jam.
Director of the IAST, Dr Suresh Narine told the Government Information Agency (GINA) that the Social Protection Ministry will be funding the establishment of a facility which will be manufacturing and marketing orange marmalade. This project will be coordinated and supervised by the IAST.
“We were informed by the residents that Hiawa has large numbers of orange trees, and we are currently putting together the final project document in collaboration with the Ministry of Social Protection to construct a facility there to produce orange marmalade. IAST has already formulated the marmalade and has branded, packaged and market-tested the product in advance of the facility being built so that we can move quickly with it,” Dr Narine said.
Apart from creating employment for villagers, this project will see persons being trained in the manufacturing and marketing fields. This facility should increase economic viability within the community, GINA said in a release.
The name of the marmalade is ‘The Taste of Hiowa Organic Orange Marmalade’; the bottle reads “Enjoy the taste of Hiowa’s organic oranges sustainably grown on the pristine slopes of the Kanuku Mountains, ripened by the crisp clean mountain air and fed by crystal clear springs. Handpicked by the Macushi Peoples of the Region, our oranges are gently stirred in traditional, open pans to give you a delicious, robust marmalade,” Dr Narine highlighted.
IAST continues to undertake projects aimed at enhancing the livelihoods of Indigenous farmers and producers in Regions Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) and Nine with funding from the Government. The Director stated that the entire Geographical Location of the Rupununi and High Pakaraimas in itself is a marketing strategy.
When in production, the intent is to have both national and international distribution and in keeping with the model adopted by the IAST for its successful Rupununi Essence line of cosmetics, 100 per cent of the profits will be reimbursed to the Hiawa community.
