Local agricultural products take centre stage at Agri-Investment Forum & Expo 2023

By Pooja Rambaran

As the Agri-Investment Forum and Expo 2023 continues throughout this weekend, some 150 exhibitors are taking the opportunity to showcase their products to a wider market and seek out distributors.
Guyana Times on Saturday had a chance to speak with some of the business owners displaying their products and services at the Arthur Chung Convention Centre (ACCC).

Luke’s Manufacturing
Recognising that a large amount of the country’s raw materials often goes to waste, John Luke established Luke’s Manufacturing to create products that counter this loss of potential.
“I think it’s time that we should put an end to that and bring our raw materials into the production section because…we can feed the world with our raw materials,” Luke said.
Among Luke’s Manufacturing’s 21 products are cassava seasoning, pepper sauce, cassareep, and fruit and coffee wines.
Luke further explained that his intention is to provide jobs for persons, young and old.
“If we manufacture our raw materials, it then brings more income and also will create more jobs,” Luke said.
Currently, the Pomeroon-based company has some 20 employees, with Luke explaining that work is in progress to attain a farming group and land from the Government to eventually create jobs for over 100 persons by 2024.
“What really inspired me about getting into this business is because I need people to have jobs. The job crisis is all over and I realise that the Government alone cannot do it; no Government alone can do it. So, we have to work hand-in-hand, together to create jobs for others,” Luke said.

Green Diamond Foods

Based in Upper Pomeroon River, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), husband-wife duo, Michellina and Oscar Richmond head Centaur Holdings – the manufacturing body of Green Diamond Foods’ products.
“Our business was started five years ago and basically we came out of the farm – we are farmers so to speak – so we started to manufacture, first, plantain flour, and then we diversified and went more into teas and Carambola fruits,” Oscar Richmond said.
As first-time participants at the expo, the Richmonds see this as an opportunity to enlighten Guyanese about their range of locally made products as well as seek out foreign investors.
Michellina Richmond explained that their eight currently available products include Capadulla, lemongrass and ginger teas aimed to boost the immune system, Carambola fruit mix used to make black cake and fruit cake, cassava bread and plantain flour porridge.
“We have the power mix porridge – a combination of plantain, banana, sweet potatoes, sweet cassava and eddoes,” Richmond said.
“All of our products are naturally made – nothing added to it, no preservatives, all organically produced from the farm to the manufacturing sector, packaged at a high standard and quality,” she added.

Dixie’s Punch De Crème
In March 2020, Dixie Jordan created Dixie’s Punch De Creme as her way to use local produce to create great flavours.
“So, it’s to bring awareness to our agriculture sector, to show what we have here, and to develop products that people can enjoy and also package it where it could go outside and represent Guyana and the international community could have a feel of Guyana and our culture,” Jordan said.

On display at her booth were three flavours of cream liqueur – original with local white rum and full cream milk; coffee; and the best seller, Capadulla, which also includes Sarsaparilla and Granny backbone.
“I was here [at the Agri-Investment Forum and Expo] last year and it was amazing. So of course, when we were given the opportunity to come again, it was a no-brainer,” Jordan said.
“Being a part of this event helps us to reach new customers and also gives us the exposure that we need so people in Guyana would know about us and know about our company and what we have to offer,” Jordan said.

The Secret Garden
Another component of the Agri-Investment Forum and Expo is a farmers’ market, allowing attendees to purchase not just fresh fruits and vegetables, but also a range of plants.
Karen Nelson of The Secret Garden started her business some three years ago and specialises in flowering and non-flowering, indoor and outdoor plants.
“I have herbs, like mint, fine thyme, rosemary and bay leaf. And then I have ornamental plants, I have bougainvillaeas for flowering plants. I have crotons, peace lilies, Chinese evergreen and I even have vining plants also,” Nelson said.

Nelson, who participated in last year’s Agri-Investment Expo as well, described the experience as excellent and is looking forward to a greater response as this year’s event continues.
“Most people prefer flowering plants and I am big on foliage plants – plants with nice leaves – and the cactus and succulents. But you know, you have to reach everyone out there so I started doing a lot more flowering plants now,” Nelson said.
As the Region works towards decreasing its food import bill by 25 percent by 2025, the Agri-Investment Forum and Expo 2023 presents an opportunity for local and international entities to advance Guyana’s agriculture sector through innovative techniques.
The three-day event comes to a close today.