By Admin. Updated 5:55 a.m., Monday, January 29, 2024, Atlantic Standard Time (GMT-4).
Six groups have received Argo processing equipment to help boost local production in St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG).
At a ceremonial handing over on Friday, January 26, at the Fisheries Conference Room, the groups received thousands of dollars worth of equipment under the Youth Agri-entrepreneurship for Rural Development Project.
The groups are Infusiion.co, Chateau Pazzion, Bequia Dynamic Investors, Youth Agribusiness Multi-purpose Cooperative, IYAMCO, and YAMCO.
Some of the items donated to the groups include industrial stoves, industrial blenders, an oil extractor, and gas cylinders, among others.
The value of the equipment donated to each group ranges from USD $16,000 to USD $21,000 based on the needs of each group (USD $1 = XCD $2.70).
Some of the groups make infused oils, others make vacuum packed food products while others make seasonings, jams, and condiments.
The organizers of the handing over ceremony said they expect to see increase in production by the groups in the next six months.
In attendance at the event were Acting Prime Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries, Rural Transformation, Industry, and Labour – Saboto Caesar, Minister of National Mobilization, Social Development, Family, Gender Affairs, Youth, Housing, and Informal Human Settlement – Orando Brewster, a representative from the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the participants, and other technocrats.
Meanwhile, Agriculture Minister Saboto Caesar, during his remarks at the event, said a National Backyard Supply Chain Programme will be launched in February where people from the agriculture ministry will be going from house to house to encourage more people in backyard farming and food production.
He said the government has been taking a number of steps to try to achieve the target set by CARICOM of reducing the food import bill by 25 percent by the year 2025.
One News SVG 