The Pomeroon Women’s Agro Processors Association (PWAPA) of Guyana has been adjudged winner of the first place at this year’s Regional Contest for Rural Innovative Projects. This contest took place in Barbados on June 15.
Chairperson Rosamund Benn and member Vilma Da Silva guided the Pomeroon Women’s Agro Processors Association (PWAPA) to victory in the 2011 Regional Contest for Rural Innovative Projects in Barbados last Wednesday
Displaying its Virgin coconut oil product, the PWAPA competed against four other groups, coming from Barbados, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago. From a submission of approximately 15 groups from across the Caribbean, those five competitors were selected last November as the finalists. The judging panel at the finals this week comprised representatives from government, civil society and international aid agencies. The panel graded the projects based on a series of criteria, including sustainability, entrepreneurship, and innovation.
Upon returning to Guyana from Barbados, the group’s chairperson, Rosamund Benn, and member Vilma Da Silva paid a courtesy call on Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud at his Vlissengen Road and Regent Street Office on Friday. The ministry later reported that the women outlined the nature of the competition, and noted the advancement of Guyana’s agriculture programme, which allowed them to secure the number one spot at the competition. The group is just one of many organisations that have been receiving support from the ministry’s agricultural diversification programme.
It was also through this programme that the ministry entered the women’s group into the contest, and in November 2010, the PWAPA submitted its concept paper along with the application form.
The Pomeroon Women’s Agro Processors Association (PWAPA) was established in 2001 to create employment for women by promoting and improving their livelihoods through the production of processed products. The group also sought collaboration with other organisations to increase economic development on the Essequibo Coast. Apart from the Virgin coconut oil, the association is involved in producing and packaging pepper sauces, fruit mixes, achars, seasoning salts and green seasonings.
The contest was organized by the Caribbean Regional Unit for Technical Assistance (CARUTA), a joint programme of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). It targeted rural innovative projects, and was open to rural groups and associations based in any of the ten countries covered by CARUTA (the OECS, Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago). Great emphasis was given to the support of rural youth and women’s initiatives.
