The Ministry of Agriculture’s weekly farmers’ market at the Sophia Exhibition Centre in Greater Georgetown is bringing fresh produce to consumers and also giving small local manufacturers a new way to reach buyers.

Among the vendors this week was Elizabeth Nandesar of Nandesar Manufacturing Enterprise, a local agro-processing business that makes pepper sauces, seasonings, curry mixes, marinades, dips and pickles, including mango achar. The company already supplies supermarkets, but its representative said the market has opened up new customers.

“This has really boosted our market, not only at the supermarkets that we supply, but many places from different entities have come out,” she said.

Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha said more small businesses are asking to take part. He has told organisers to make room for producers who turn up on market day without registering beforehand.

“If they don’t have any contact, they can turn up on the day of the market… so that we can keep expanding the market,” the minister said.

The minister said the market is part of the government’s efforts to ease the cost of living by connecting farmers and producers directly with consumers, instead of through middlemen.

“People are just inflating the price in the middlemen. So, we have to try as much as possible to get rid of that… so that they can have directly from the farm to the people,” he said.

The market runs every Wednesday in October from 3 p.m. The minister said a similar market will be held at least once a month in Regions Two, Three, Five and Six.

Small businesses and farmers who want to take part can contact the Ministry of Agriculture through its Facebook page or phone line or contact the Guyana Marketing Corporation (GMC).