Pineapple project in Mainstay doing well – Toshao

Pineapple project in Mainstay doing well – Toshao
Kaieteur News, 1 September 2007

Recognising the potential benefits that could be derived from organic
agriculture, Government continues to pursue initiatives that would
facilitate the expansion of this budding industry.

It was against this background that the pineapple processing facility
was established in Mainstay/Whayaka, a small Amerindian community in
Region Two (Pomeroon/Supenaam) in 2002. The village has been officially
certified for the cultivation, production and export of organic
pineapples.

The initiative was a collaborative effort of the community, the
National Agricultural Research Institute (NARI) and Amazon Caribbean
Ltd (AMCAR). The $3M factory uses clear glass containers to package
pineapple chunks which are sold on the local and international markets.

According to Village Captain Yvonne Pearson the initiative is a
significant boost for the community in improving the lives of the
residents since it is providing employment for over 30 residents and
she is optimistic that more opportunities will be available with future
expansion.

“With the processing facility established, we have been able to create
jobs for members of the community, and this has contributed
significantly in raising the standard of living of our 400 population,”
Pearson said.

Internationally the demand for organic produce is rapidly increasing,
as more consumers are becoming aware of healthy and safe eating habits.
This is creating the need for more focus on the production of improved
quality agricultural foods to satisfy the growing demand.

This is in keeping with the administration's agricultural
diversification thrust and the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper. As a
result of the growing demand on the international market organic
production is playing a critical role in the development of rural
communities by creating employment and generating income.

“We are very proud of our pineapples because we are the only Amerindian
community in Guyana certified to produce organic pineapples.
Approximately, 80 percent of our farmers are involved in the production
of pineapples in this community and we also produce the sweetest
pineapples in the country and the Caribbean ,” the Village Captain
asserted.

To continually supply the processing facility, farmers have been
encouraged to increase the acreage of their farms to supply the demand.
This has resulted in farmers cultivating an additional 50 acres
annually.

According to Isabella Allen, a farmer, “we were not planting so many
acres as we are doing now and this is because of this factory… this is
very good for us in the community. We are happy because we do not have
to go to Anna Regina and stand long, long time with our pines.”