Rural farmers stage their own market, cheap greens abound

Jan 11, 2009 News

As the prices of vegetables skyrocket around the country, the New Guyana Marketing Corporation yesterday hosted farmers outside its office at Robb and Alexander Streets, selling fruits and vegetables at very low prices.

A Canal Number One Polder farmer and his produce, yesterday outside the New GMC

Farmers from Kuru Kuru, Laluni, Friendship, Kaneville, Canal Numbers One and Two Polders and Parika took their produce out early yesterday morning as persons rushed for the cheaper prices.
In some instances, farmers had to send back to their farms for more supplies.
These return trips were facilitated by the New GMC.
Speaking with Kaieteur News, Marketing Manager Richard Haniff said that the response yesterday was very favourable.
He added that, once this continues, next week, farmers from Region Ten Farmers Association and other farmers’ organizations will be facilitated.
“Farmers were selling for themselves, so the cost of the middle man and transportation was excluded.”
Haniff pointed out that farmers were very enthusiastic about the ventures, adding that the initiative will be taken to various communities.
He pointed that the New GMC is facilitating rather than substituting for the farmers.
Yesterday, too, four teams were out in various communities to determine which areas have large supplies of produce.
Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud, at a recent press conference, acknowledged that during the current rainy season a disruption in vegetable production has been noted, but while data indicate there might not be a countrywide shortage, an imbalance exists in availability, particularly in city markets.
To address this problem, NGMC has deployed teams to identify locations where supply has not been affected, in an effort to make provision for other areas which have seen a temporary dip.
Officers from the Ministry of Agriculture’s Crops and Livestock Department have also been deployed to affected farming communities to provide assistance.