Georgetown: The Agriculture Ministry through the National Agriculture Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) has been focusing on commodities like turmeric, ginger, and black pepper for cultivation in communities in Regions One, Seven, and Eight, but at present, the initial focus is on Region One. Such commodities are responsible for close to US$2 million in importation on an annual basis.
The Agriculture Ministry, however, has developed a strategy of support that will realise increased production with a focus on value added, and in the case of turmeric, and ginger, the production of the powdered form of these for marketing.
The ultimate goal of the Ministry is to at least by 2020 have minimal importation of these commodities and their value added products.
The Ministry’s central location, with regards to its spice activity in Region One is at Hosororo. There, farmers are engaged in the production of turmeric, and while, the growing of the commodity has not been an issue, constraints with regards to processing have limited farmers’ enthusiasm to the spice’s cultivation.
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