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Locally produced, packaged plantain chips hit the market
A regular supply of plantains on the domestic market has enabled Sueria Manufacturing Inc, a local company, to get involved in the processing of plantain chips. The venture is a collaboration between Sueria Manufacturing Inc.
Frank Sanichara, Chief Executive Officer of Sueria Manufacturing Inc
and other individuals from the West Coast Demerara; one of whom is Mr. Latchman Pooran.
Quality Control Purchasers employed with the company are tasked with selecting the best plantains with the required ripeness and size for processing, says Frank Sanichara, Chief Executive Officer.
“Since 2013 I had the production line sitting at my factory and I was waiting for the right moment to start. I was approached earlier last year by Mr. Latchman Pooran who signaled similar interest as mine. We both sat together and brainstormed this entire project,” he said.
“Kaieteur Plantain Chips,” comes in 46 grams packages and are available in two flavours: Lightly Salted and Naturally Ripe Plantain. The company’s target markets are community shops and supermarkets across Guyana. “We are looking to dominate the Guyana market before venturing into international markets,” Sanichara explained.
This healthy snack is being offered to consumers at a very competitive price. The targeted retail price for each pack is $140. The company believes its competitive advantage resonates in the freshness and taste of the product.
“When compared to the imported competition, we believe this price is affordable…The packaging is exceptionally beautiful…We have a very strong edge over the competition; our chips are guaranteed to be fresher than any imported chips and as for the taste we will leave that for you to decide,” he emphasized.
While Sueria Manufacturing Inc. is offering consumers a delicious snack, many farmers and other persons involved in the value chain are benefiting from this business venture. Currently, the company is processing in excess of five tons of plantains daily. Should there be an increase in demand it is prepared to expand operations to supply that demand.
“We are still in the early stages of production; we are in the testing stage, as demand continues I am optimistic that the supply will be there. We have several farmers interested in supplying but there is currently a ready supply of plantains on the market,” the CEO noted.
He said that the supply of plantains is more than the company demands because distribution of the product has now begun. “Instead of focusing on producing volumes we are placing more emphasis on quality and freshness, while we are accessing the demands at the same time,” Sanichara said.
The new local plaintain chip on the market.
Several years ago, the ready supply of plantains Sanichara spoke of was threatened by the Black Sigatoka Disease. However, due to collaboration between the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) and other agencies such as PROPEL, there was a reduction in the incidence of the disease.
NAREI has created demonstration plots in several farming communities (such as Clanbrook and Hand-en-Veldt, Region Four; Leguan and Wakenaam, Region Three; and Golden Fleece and Queenstown, Region Two) that were significantly affected by the disease.
The intention is to offer farmers’ firsthand knowledge about good farming practices crucial for healthy plantain production.
In addition, the evaluation of BSD resistant plantain and banana cultivars established in 2016 are being continuously evaluated. A few of the cultivars are showing prominence.
Importantly, today plantain production has increased significantly and the price per pound of plantain varies between $100 and $120.
According to Dr. Oudho Homenauth, CEO of NAREI, agro-processing ventures such as the one undertaken by Sueria Manufacturing Inc, is one of the main reasons NAREI is determined to increase the production of crops locally. He noted NAREI will always support value addition activities by ensuring farmers have access to relevant technology and that there is a reduction of pests and diseases.
According to Sanichara, his company is trying to foster a good relationship with suppliers, particularly the farmers. It is crucial that farmers understand that the company requires high quality plantains to produce a superior product. The shelf life of the product is six months. The chips are nitrogen packed, which helps with shelf life.
He said, “With our approach we are not worried about shelf life since we are replenishing the shops weekly and only sell them what they can handle for one week. We have a state of the art distribution system which allows us to do this.”
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