Farmers to benefit from $41.9 million cold storage facilities for fruits and vegetables

The New Guyana Marketing Corporation on Wednesday afternoon signed $41.9 million in three contracts towards cold storage facilities for fruits and vegetables.

Under a $14.9 million contract awarded to Modern Electronics and Industrial Supplies, two refrigerated containers are being procured. The containers will be used to store fresh fruits and vegetables and other products while maintaining quality, reducing spoilage, and thereby increasing shelf life.

The temperature adjustment feature of the containers will allow for product-specific storage conditions. These refrigerated containers will contribute to the year-round consistency of prices and product supplies where there are seasonality issues, especially for fruits and vegetables.

Another contract, valued at $13 million and awarded to Meditron Inc., will provide the equipment necessary to monitor the quality of the agro-processed products. Laboratory equipment will be stationed at each retrofitted processing facility.

Yet another contract, valued at $14 million and awarded to K. Ramdial Construction Services, will go towards a shed and designated loading area for the refrigerated containers which will be stationed at the Central Packaging facility in the compound of the National Exhibition Centre in Sophia, Georgetown.

This is the only facility in Region Four that allows for the preparation of fruits and vegetables for the export market.

The Sophia facility is the only one recognised by Guyana’s international partners but it does not have a designated shed and loading area for refrigerated containers and so the one being constructed will reduce loading times while adhering to best practices.

The contracts were signed at the Ministry of Agriculture and Minister Zulfikar Mustapha urged the contractors to ensure they deliver according to specifications and do so within the time frame of the contracts.