Large turnout as Region 6 residents capitalise on farmers’ market

Hundreds of shoppers turned out to the farmers’ market at Albion in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) on Sunday.
The farmers’ market was dubbed a huge success and many consumers utilised the opportunity to capitalise on the reduced prices.
Most of the vegetables offered at the farmers’ market were being sold cheaper than market prices in the region.
On Friday at one market in the region, ochro was being retailed at $160 per pound while at the farmers’ market it was $100 per pound.
At that same market, ten strings of bora were $100 while at the farmers’ market about 50 were being sold for $200. Eggplants were being retailed at three and four for $100 compared with three for $200 at another market in the region on Friday. Tomatoes were $100 per pound at the farmers’ market but elsewhere in the region the price was doubled. Plantains, which were being retailed on Friday $260 per pound, were between $160 and $180 per pound and on the bunch, it was $100 per pound at Albion.
However, there was no noticeable difference in the price of meat. Nevertheless, many of the consumers expressed appreciation for being able to have the opportunity to shop from such a wide variety. Many of the stalls also had processed food items for sale.
The event on Sunday was the second farmers’ market organised by the Agriculture Ministry following the one at Lusignan, Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) last week.
Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha referred to the event at Albion as being a success while noting that more persons had turned out to the Region Six farmers’ market.
“People are calling for this to be a regular feature at least once per month and I am hoping that by the end of the pilot project; that is to hold one in each region, we can have this regularly on a monthly basis,” the Minister told this publication.
Farmers and producers from Regions Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) Four and Five (Mahaica-Berbice) also attended the event on Sunday at Albion.
“This was in the budget to organise farmers’ markets because last year when we suffered that flood we saw the price for vegetables and fruits skyrocketing and the Government had to do something.”
Through Government’s intervention, flood relief packages were issued to farmers to assist them to go back to the land. This saw a slight reduction in the cost of fruits and vegetables. However, on most occasions, the reduction was not reaching the consumer.
“The farmers are not receiving the maximum price and the consumers are not receiving the lower price. The retailers are putting the mark,” Mustapha explained.
The farmers’ market was designed to have consumers purchase items at lower cost and to allow farmers to have a better price for their produce. The objective, according to the Agriculture Minister, was achieved.
This Sunday, the farmers’ market is expected to move to Leonora in Region Three and then it is expected to move again to Region Four before going to Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam). (G4)