IICA supports agro processors in Antigua

The competition sought to enable small-scale enterprises, particularly women, to strengthen value-added processes.

Antigua, August 3, 2016 (IICA). With support of the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), a group of 23 agro-processors, comprising mostly rural women, participated in a competition for the best processed products made with mango, during Antigua’s 2016 Mango Festival.

Their participation in the Agro-processing competition was also supported by the Ministry of Agriculture, Lands, Fisheries and Barbuda Affairs and the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology.

According to the organizers, the main objective of the contest was to support the rural women group and other local agro-processors with the exposure of their products.

The competition was divided into six categories which included:

Jams, jellies and marmalade
Chutney and achar
Desserts, cakes and pastries
Sauces
Drinks, juices, smoothies, crushes and wines
Dried fruits, vegetables and confectionery

First place winners presented products including mango jam, chutney, sorbet, vinaigrette, bait-up and sweet potato chips.

According to Craig Thomas, IICA´s technical specialist in Antigua and Barbuda, the competition seeks to enable small-scale enterprises, particularly women, to strengthen value-added processes and market opportunities to meet the demands of retailers and consumers.

“To promote agribusinesses, it is important to strengthen the use of local raw materials such as mangoes, pineapples and other fruits and vegetables”, he added.

The 2016 Mango Festival took place in Victoria Park, Botanical Gardens, on July 24 and 25. The slogan of the activity was “Mango and carnival mek fu (made for) sweet bacchanal”.

More information: craig.thomas@iica.int

Photo gallery: http://www.iica.int/en/gallery/2016-mango-festival