The Inter American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture together with the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations will continue in 2021 to provide technical and other support to agro-processors in Guyana to grow and sustain their businesses.

Under a governance and entrepreneurship project, the organisations have been providing support to a number of agro-processors.

Johan David, Agri-Business and Value Chain Specialist with the Inter American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) during a recent interview with Business InspireGY said the organisations through a number of groups countrywide, small agro-processors have received technical support in a number of areas among them capacity building, marketing, guidance on packaging and labeling and sanitation.

“We do have some projects in which people get funding for specific things but it is always better to work in groups.

The group methodology, Ms. David explained is always pushed, as it has the ability to reach more agro-processors.

“In order to reach many, working together is better, you remember its economies of scale. Not everybody has everything, you may be doing pepper sauce but you are only able to do a small amount. If you are to reach the supermarket then you need four to five persons, who are able to come together to supply consistently”.

One of the groups currently receiving support under the Governance and Entrepreneurship Project is the Mocha Arcadia Multipurpose Agricultural Co-operative Society.

Ms. David said despite the many challenges faced by businesses as a result of the COVD-19 pandemic, the group has been able to turn it into an opportunity.

“A lot of people did a lot of virtual market days and forums but this group saw that this is possibly the new normal and found a way to work within that new normal”.

The group recently hosted a Farmers Day in the community, and according to her they should be applauded for it.

“On that level in the area of marketing, we are also providing them with marketing assistance. There is an online marketing platform that we will be rolling out, come the new year, which works similar to Amazon with delivery service”.

Many of the products in the Mocha Arcadia Multipurpose Agricultural Co-operative Society group will be on that platform for the Guyanese populace to access, Ms. David said.