Guyana to ink MOU with Bloomberg for food hub at Yarrowkabra

A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) will soon be signed with Bloomberg, for the purpose of marketing and branding for a food hub being built at Yarrowkabra, Soesdyke-Linden Highway, an initiative that according to President Dr Irfaan Ali, will be a major step towards increased food security.

During a recent meeting with farmers in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), President Ali spoke of the government’s efforts to support the agriculture sector. One of the areas in which the government is looking to co-invest, is in the creation of a food hub that will export produce to international markets. According to the president, a Memorandum of Understanding will soon be signed with Bloomberg for this food hub.
“Co-investing. To support agriculture, we’re going to set aside money as a government. To co-invest with you. What do I mean? Right now, we’re building a worldclass food hub of the highest standard, that will take all our food, can it, package it, to go to international high value markets.”
“We’re going to sign the MOU very soon, with an international company that will do the marketing, branding and everything. Bloomberg Green, they’re going to manage it and ensure its up to the latest US certifications. That is what we’re doing. We’re not talking, we’re working,” the President added.
The president also emphasized the importance of taking care of the community, noting that the people themselves have to have a mindset shift and move away from any irresponsible behavior. He used an example of roads being blocked by residents.
“A new road finish, a man goes and dump sand into the middle of the road to mix cement. We have to love ourselves. We have to love who we are. We have to love our future. We have to love what is in our community. And take care of it.”
In a recent interview with this publication, Agriculture MInister Zulfikar Mustapha had provided further insight into the impending signing of this MOU. As a matter of fact, he was hopeful the MOU for the Food hub up the Soesdyke/Linden highway could be signed by the end of this month.
“I’m hoping the MOU could be signed by this month end… as a matter of fact (the construction) has started already, but they will do the layout and everything,” the agriculture minister further added.
The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) government is pursuing several ongoing initiatives that are aimed at increasing food production, as well as the resilience, and sustainability of the sector.
This includes investing in world class storage and drying facilities in every region; developing a world class food hub for the processing, packaging and exportation of products; setting-up of an agriculture development fund; creating between 10-15 acres of land for high value agriculture crops using climate smart and resilient techniques including shade houses and hydroponics; building a fertilizer production facility, among others.
When it comes to increasing export opportunities for agricultural products, there have been discussions between Guyana, the Agriculture Department of Roraima, Brazil, and Sebrae (Brazilian Micro and Small Business Support Service) earlier this year, with the aim of further deepening collaboration efforts between Guyana and Brazil, particularly in the agricultural sector and cross-border trade.
In 2022, President Dr Irfaan Ali and Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley had travelled to northern Brazil to meet with officials of the State of Roraima to advance trilateral relations. The two Heads of State met with the Governor of Roraima, Antonio Denarium, at the Governor’s Palace in Boa Vista.
Also in 2022, President Ali had attended a Caribbean-Roraima Investors Luncheon at the Santa Fé farm in North Rupununi. During that meeting, Brazilian investors representing half of the production capacity of the State of Roraima made presentations on their capacity and capabilities and spoke of their intentions to collaborate with Guyana and the wider Caricom Region in agriculture.
With the State of Roraima, including the business community, expressing a desire to be integrated more into the vision of Caricom, when it comes to the agricultural sector, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed with the State of Roraima.