PaNaraima )lavours Sundried 7omato Project off to magnificent start
After months of planning, research and marketing, the Pakaraima Flavours Sundried Tomato Project of Region Eight is off to a magnificent start. And those involved in the management of the initiative couldn’t be more pleased with the reaction of consumers as well as the local business environment.
It was in March 2017 that Kaieteur News highlighted this transformative project, which was launched by the Institute of Applied science and Technology IAST , the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, the Ministry of Social Protection and the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute in Para- makatoi, Region Eight. The project, designed by IAST’s Director Professor, Suresh Narine at the behest of Minister within the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, the Valerie Garrido-Lowe, focuses on the organic growth of tomatoes in the fertile valleys of the North Pakaraimas. The tomatoes are processed and sundried in a modern food processing and sun-drying facility on the outskirts of Paramakatoi.
The sundried tomatoes are then processed into valueadded Sundried Tomato Salad Dressings and Sundried Tomato Ketchup and packaged under the brand name Pakaraima Flavours. In January, the finished product became available on the shelves of local supermarkets.
The facility for the project was designed by IAST and funded by the Canadian +igh Commission and the Government of Guyana. Professor Narine explained that the project is an ambitious one, seeking to establish a number of firsts. +e said that these include Establishment of the first modern sun-drying, postharvest facility in hinterland Guyana Introduction of the first organised, commercial, organic, farming of tomatoes in the Pakaraimas under a cooperative structure Development of the first commercial Sundried Tomato Salad Dressings and Sundried Tomato Ketchup and establish the first modern food plant to do so Establishment of distribution and marketing of the new products in such a manner that a revolving capital fund can be replenished in time to finance successive plantings and training of staff along the vertically integrated chain of activities to ensure maximum indigenous labour content.
Professor Narine also noted that the project seeks to build an enduring brand which promotes not only the products, but the Patamonas Peoples of the Pakaraimas, their way of life, Guyana’s natural environment and its identity.
(Kaieteur News)