The Agriculture Ministry is moving to set up semi-processors in communities that are cultivating spices in an attempt to increase production and add value to the commodities. Minister of Agriculture Dr. Leslie Ramsammy said the ministry could start installing the processors as soon as June and Hosororo, Region One is set to be the pilot community.

The Ministry of Agriculture has been having much success with its spice project; cultivation of turmeric, black pepper, ginger and nutmeg in Regions 1, 7 and 8. Transporting the spices to the markets on the coast has posed a problem, which has in turn deterred the farmers from increasing production, thereby limiting the growth of the project. The installation of the semi-processors is expected to address these issues.

Turmeric

In an invited comment to the Government Information Agency (GINA), Minister Ramsammy explained the difficulty.  “The reason why the farmers are not going into greater acreage of the spice is because people do not use what they grow there. A major part of it has to be exported internally, that is to Georgetown. In exporting to Georgetown, transportation becomes a problem. So for us to increase, the production, get more farmers engaged we have to ensure that we can bring the product to the market place which is the coast, mainly Georgetown more cheaply. We are looking to change that, and that is by putting in semi-processors in the communities.”

Hosororo, Region One grows a large quantity of turmeric (dye), hence its selection as the pilot community. “We have already started the process of procurement from India of the semi processor. This would reduce the transportation cost of turmeric significantly to one-eight. The processor will take eight pounds of turmeric and process it down to one pound and then that gives you the powder, which you transport,” he said.

Nutmeg

Meanwhile, the Minister explained that the ministry will be seeking to introduce spice cultivation to areas on the Coast and to over time put in place semi-processors at these locations.

“We will do similar things in the other regions. Right now Sterling Products can buy up all of the products. They have the capacity to produce, but eventually if we are going to produce enough for Guyana’s utilisation and for export to the Caribbean, we will have to utilise the coast.”

Black Pepper

“We have successfully done turmeric and ginger at the Number 63 Nursery, and we are now looking to promote it among the coast, because on the coast of course we solve the problem of transportation so we are trying to get more farmers to cultivate it on their plots,” he said.

The ministry is also seeking to promote spice cultivation along the Pomeroon, particularly black pepper, as the area is ideal for its production.

“In terms of the coast we expect at the Number 63 Nursery and at NAREI we will put up small semi – processing plants for the farmers’ utilisation,” he said.