…many exhibitors expressed dissatisfaction with low turnout
By Samuel Sukhnandan
As the curtains came down on the agro processors exhibition dubbed “Guyanese Flavour Uncapped” at the Sophia Exhibition Centre on Sunday, many exhibitors expressed some level of dissatisfaction, stating that the event could have been much more successful but there was a very small turnout.
Uncapped, which kicked off on Friday last, attracted hundreds of people that day,
A sales representative from NAMILCO attending to a patron at Uncapped on Sunday
but as the rest of the days went by, very few people visited the exhibition. For some local agro producers especially those with small and medium size businesses, dissatisfaction with the event was evident.
However, some of the much larger businesses said while they, too, were not pleased with the turnout, many Guyanese who visited the exhibition had a keen interest in their local products. Some of the visitors were even surprised at some of the products being produced locally.
A representative from the National Milling Company (NAMILCO), who spoke with Guyana Times on Sunday, said many people were interested in sampling the products, but very few made purchases, despite there being various promotions on the several products that were on display.
Pharhalal Dawarkha said, “The turnout was really poor. We expected something a
Local entrepreneur Denisia Winter from Anai, Region Nine, sits next to her products on display at the exhibition
little bit better. I think it has to do with how the event was promoted. I think most people have the idea that it’s mostly agricultural products, and not the other local products produced in Guyana.”
The owner of Kraftia’s, Marlloyd Kyte, told this newspaper that some people were interested in buying her products – mostly handmade fabric, bead and natural seed jewelry, with which she was impressive. However, she did explain that the number of patrons was very small, and the visitors to the exhibition booth were not as expected. According to her, the event did not achieve what it had set out to accomplish.
“The response is a bit slow. I went into town to ask people about the event, and many of them said they haven’t heard much about it. So a lot of people haven’t come by, and I guess it has a lot to do with how the event was planned. But I am still hoping for the best,” she told this publication on Sunday.
A female entrepreneur from Annai said several people who visited the exhibition showed an interest in her products, although many of them did not make purchases.
Denisia Winter said she was nevertheless encouraged by patrons to continue building her work, while some of them expressed pleasure with the manner in which she presented and packaged her products, mostly made of coconut.
The overall objective of the affair was to allow local agro-processors to showcase their products, and to seek additional regional and international markets. Business Minister Dominic Gaskin saw the event not only as a business event, or just an agro-event, but also a food security initiative, since it featured Guyanese foods from Guyanese farms from across all administrative regions.
The Minister opined that exposing local products to the international markets would not necessarily lead to prices being competitive. He noted, however, that in terms of standards and marketing, “It is a plus for producers.” He further emphasised the importance of “consuming our own products”, which will impact the amount of food imported into the country. To that end, the export market will be examined, as there is a large enough market in the agro-processing industry.
Guyana Manufacturing and Service Association (GMSA) President Shyam Nokta had said that the Caribbean region – which is a net importer of food – spends in excess of US$4 billion every year, which he said is an increase of 50 percent since the year 2000. This, he said, provides an opportunity for countries like Guyana, a producer of food and agro-products and agro-businesses, to step up to the plate.
He spoke about the reality that several imported items found in supermarkets can be produced here. “This often begs the question(s), ‘Are we showcasing? Are we marketing what we produce sufficiently? And is there enough support being provided to local products?”
Nokta stressed that agro-processing has been around for as long as agriculture in Guyana, and it continues to play a critical role in the livelihood and well-being of a large section of the Guyanese population.
The fair also included a culture night on Saturday, October 28, and showcased many local artistes. It wrapped up on Sunday, October 29, with “a grand” local food festival sponsored by the Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL). Other sponsors of the event include IPED, Edward Beharry and Company, Sterling Products Limited, Impressions, Republic Bank, and Banks DIH.
