Guyanese farmers may soon benefit from fixed, long term deals that would allow them to sell their produce to international markets through Arapaima Logistics, a joint venture between Ramps Logistics and GK Logistics.
Already, in March, the company shipped about 40,000 coconuts from Guyana’s Pomeroon for sale across the United States (US).
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Ramps Logistics Shaun Rampersad told the News Room on Tuesday that the company worked alongside farmers in Region Two (Pomeroon- Supenaam) to get the coconuts for export.
The coconuts were processed and packaged at the Guyana Marketing Corporation’s Central Packaging facility. And the coconuts were later shipped to Ramps’ cold storage facility in Miami and are now being delivered across the US Eastern seaboard.
“Over the next few months, we will be doing it for coconuts, pineapples, peppers, pumpkins, plantains, yams and eddoes,” Rampersad announced.
And in doing so, Rampersad said that the company will be seeking to execute contracts with local farmers – for about six months or even one year – to guarantee that there is a constant supply of produce.
This will also allow farmers to have guaranteed markets for their products and guaranteed prices.
“…we are getting those guarantees from our buyers in the US,” the Ramps Logistics head said. What this means is that the company has fixed, foreign markets interested in buying the Guyanese produce.
And importantly, Rampersad said that with these fixed markets, the company aims to support the local efforts at expanding production. There has been a revitalised focus on guaranteeing food security and expanding food production.
“Hopefully, we’ll be able to really increase the production of some of those big products in Guyana,” the CEO said.
The News Room understands that Arapaima plans to work closely with the Ministry of Agriculture and its supporting agencies like the GMC and the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI).
