The Aranaputa Processors Friendly Society (APFS) is located in the North Rupununi ; the Aranaputa Processors Peanut Butter Factory makes the best all natural peanut butter in Guyana. The factory buys the raw peanuts from the local farmers and roasting, shelling and processing are all done at the factory. Those at the factory are very enthusiastic to share with tourists the process and allow them to participate.
Fresh peanut butter on cassava bread is served daily to the school children in Aranaputa and across the North Rupununi as a snack. The peanut butter can be purchased directly from the factory Monday to Friday during their operating hours and in various stores in the North Rupununi.
Persons can also visit the various agriculture plots locals cultivate as part of their daily livelihood. They can also tour the experimental agro-forestry plot in Aranaputa. It is a 20-acre savannah land that has been in existence for the past eight years, and is used for experimenting growing various species of trees.
The Aranaputa Processors Friendly Society in the North Rupununi was established by a group of women in 2005, when farmers in Aranaputa were struggling to find markets for purchase their peanuts. In March 2010, residents participated in the formal opening of the modern peanut processing factory in the village. The project was successfully completed by the Government of Canada in collaboration with the Government of Guyana, through the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) at the time.
At the time that the cultivation of peanuts was the main source of income in the village and that the electrically-driven factory served as a major asset for the economic development of the community.
The plant, capable of producing 100 pounds of peanut butter per day, has been managed by members of a Council under the umbrella of the Aranaputa Processors Friendly Society Peanut Butter Factory.
Since its establishment, the school-feeding programme in the Region was the main market for the peanut butter, and the Village Council had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Ministry of Education with respect to the quantities required and the price at the time.
After some difficulties with contracts and non -payment The Aranaputa Processors Friendly Society have managed to clear their finances and are now running at optimum capabilities. This is according to the Agriculture Health Specialist at the Inter- American Institute for Cooperation (IICA), Ms. Maxine Parris Aaron
“Aranaputa is in full production and have been supplying markets in Georgetown,” she revealed.
She said too that all of the ladies who are part of the Women’s Agro-Processors Development Network (WADN), of which IICA is a partner, have been experiencing increases in the market with the help from local groups.
“For Tapacuma the CDP Project there has been able to open up more markets and through the participation in Exhibitions, they have widened their market scope,” Ms. Parris Aaron said while she added that one of the challenges that remains is the lack of “local buy in” for the various products.
