Northwest Organics on Monday received a cheque valued $2.3M from Minister of Finance Dr. Ashni Singh which it will use to purchase machinery to enable mass production in order to supply a new market in Trinidad.
In presenting the cheque to the head of the organization, Annette Arjoon, Minister Singh commended the society for the excellent organic products produced under the name Northwest Organics, namely cassava bread and casareep, Crabwood oil, and Crabwood oil soap, cocoa sticks, and peanut butter which are retailed at leading supermarkets in Georgetown, GINA reported.
Arjoon is also Project Coordinator of the Guyana Marine Turtle Conservation Society.
According to GINA, the money will be used to acquire five choppers/grinders, five diesel engines with frame/belts and five tillers with gasoline engines to facilitate the production of a larger quantity of goods since the company has been requested to export its products to Hi Lo Supermarket in Trinidad and Tobago.
The presentation of the cheque, GINA stated represented the fulfillment of a commitment by President Bharrat Jagdeo when he met with Arjoon recently and undertook to support the work of North West Organics in purchasing machinery to enable mass production.
The finance minister also noted the excellent work that the society has been doing not only in its original mandate in relation to sea turtle conservation but also in furthering the cause of sustainable development in the communities.
Approximately 100 indigenous women from five indigenous communities located at Hosororo, Waini, Maracaibo, Aquero and Tukapita have been involved in the manual production of non-traditional products.
Arjoon expressed her appreciation to President Jagdeo and the government for the money received.
She also acknowledged the support of the Ministries of Amerindian Affairs and Agriculture. Arjoon said her society remains committed to continuing its conservation and community development work.
The Guyana Marine Turtle Conservation Society was founded in 2000 with the sole mandate of effecting sea turtle conservation, but its objectives were broadened in 2005 to include the economic well-being of the user communities and conservation of the environment via North West Organics. Since then North West Organics has been the main marketing tool for products from the Shell Beach area.
Thats great news … I think the Amerindians of guyana are finally having the opportunity to excell in areas which they are superb at doing. Thanks to miss Arjoon and ministers of government who are promoting amerindian culture and helping communities to live decent lives.
If guyana is gonna get support in tourism from europe ….Tourists want to visit amerindian villages where people are happy and prosperous .
After all we are the original inhabitants of our beautiful country ..Well done
Im proud to say i bought my first bottle of cassreep in uk for 25 years what a joyous moment…..i can make pepperpot !!!
Us bloggers that have been beating up on the government institutions, when they mess things up,must now give credit where credit is due. Great assistance and teamwork by the government. This is a real feel good story.
Tillers make a great difference in farming. It can do the work in one hour, what a traditional farmer can do in eight hours or more. I have a small tiller about 20 pounds in weight and boy, it is a workhorse, that can weed the beds also, giving any farmer more time to concentrate on caring for his plants. So that a big plus.
These farmers should also look into forest farming techniques for their cocoa plantations. There is no need for slash and burn. Many forest plants and trees have evolved complex interdependent biosystems of nourishmnet and protection in the Amazon rain forest. The technique is to just clear enough space for your cocoa plants to get sunlight.
Trees cut down in the process should be cut up into blocks and placed around the cocoa plants along with other rotted vegetation, that way mushroom spores can speed up the organic breakdown of matter to provide natural fertilizer in the proccess.
These farmers also need to get farming software, to document every aspect of the growing proccess from seed to market. With the availability of cell phones with cameras, the farmer can keep actual pictures of their crops on a hard drive.
The government should have a similiar database that can compare farming data with such problems as pest and fungus infestation and what remedies are available.
If they are unable to purchase an off the shelf piece of software, anyone with knowledge of windows visual basic can design such a piece of software.
Joe.