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Pomeroon Women’s Agro-Processors now 14
Before the Pomeroon Women’s Agro-Processors Association came into being in July 2000, the dozen women who comprised the group were stay at home moms. However, 14 years later those women’s lives have been transformed. Today,
The women with some of their local products.
they all see themselves as thriving local entrepreneurs.
“Initially, we were a group of women not knowing where we were heading,” said Rosemund Benn, Vice Chairperson of the group.
Benn reminisced on the then unoccupied building that was gradually transformed over the years through donor aids from agencies to house the factory. She said that former Regional Chairman, Alli Baksh, and another colleague, former Neighbourhood Democratic Council chairman, Ayube Khan, who considered refurbishing the building to put be put into proper use.
While transformation was in progress, letters were also sent to women from various backgrounds in the Charity area. Twenty women responded and attended the first meeting. Fourteen of them became members of the Pomeroon Women Agro- Processors Group, Benn said.
As construction work moved apace, the women formally assembled into the building. They were granted their licence in 2007.Those women were subsequently trained in Food processing, food handling, packaging, labeling, marketing, managing and book keeping.
Today, the Women’s group produces seven local products, including cherry and malacca wine, Achar, green seasoning and the popular Virgin Coconut oil under the household brand “Pomeroon Delight”, from raw materials purchased from local farmers.
Benn has attested to the success of her group, despite competition from the continued importation of foreign products. She said that the group is seeking markets in countries such as Jamaica, Canada, and St. Lucia. The Virgin coconut oil continues to make a huge impact on those markets.
“Today we know what we are about and that is assisting farmers to utilize their produce.”
Some of the products the women produce ready for the market.
The journey through those fourteen years didn’t exempt challenges, Benn said, but the group was able to overcome them. Challenges still abound in the area of packaging, Benn admitted to being able to work with different stakeholders, including Sterling Products, The Ministry of Agriculture and Trade and Tourism, CUSO-VSO and the New Marketing Cooperation, the group is managing well.
“We are getting somewhere now.”
The women work eight hours, five days a week. They are being paid monthly. The women also enjoy an annual dividend from the profits made. The women are also sent on study tours to enhance their entrepreneurial skills in food production periodically.
In 2011, the group took part in an innovative project in Barbados and won the first prize of $1M. Earlier this year the group also competed with two groups from Peru and Guyana through CUSO. On this occasion they brought second.
Currently the group has networked with six groups nationally, from Regions One, Two and Nine. The Pomeroon Women Agro- Processors Association is a constant feature at the annual Berbice Expo and Essequibo Night. (By Yannason Duncan).
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