- Mango Madness Project promotes innovation, value-added products and capacity development
- The project will stimulate job creation and economic growth
The Greater Guyana Initiative, in partnership with The Consultancy Group (TCG) officially launched the Hinterland Social Enterprise through Fresh Fruits Value Added Production “Mango Madness” Project at Manari Ranch, Region 9 on March 7, 2025.
Mango Madness is more than just mangoes! This project provides an opportunity for broad-based socio-economic development in Region 9, by laying the foundation for wider social enterprise that converts fresh fruit into household income, thereby creating communal marketing opportunities for fruits to maximize benefits to residents, through suitable value addition technologies.
This multi-faceted project included the establishment of an agro-processing facility designed to transform the surplus of fresh fruits—including mangoes, jamoons, cashews, and citrus—into value-added products such as jams, dried fruits, juices and concentrates for drink mixes. The project will also create opportunities for job creation, particularly for hinterland women, while reducing fruit wastage and promoting sustainability.
Mr. Yusuf Abraham, TCG’s Project Manager, in his opening remarks highlighted the initiative’s broader significance of transforming abundance of natural resources into valuable high-quality products derived from Region 9.
In his address, Mr. Bryan Allicock, Regional Chairman of Region 9, highlighted the importance of this impactful initiative in strengthening the Region’s agro-processing capability, indicating, “We have the opportunity to create high-quality products that will benefit the region.” He further expressed his gratitude to GGI and The Consultancy Group for conceptualizing a project which capitalizes on the marketability of the diverse resources within the Region, thereby bringing value to communities.
Meanwhile, Ms. Alicia Bess-Anderson, GGI Lead, emphasized the importance of the GGI -TCG Partnership in identifying opportunities to utilize the abundance of natural resources in Region 9 to benefit communities, which she explained is in keeping with GGI’s mandate to contributing to Guyana’s sustainable development. “We can’t wait to return to see the progress made and the impact on yourself, your communities, and the region at large.”
The Mango Madness Project is one of several GGI funded initiatives being executed in Region 9. Other initiatives include The Hinterland Poultry ‘Egg Sandwich’ Project, which is strengthening local poultry production, and the Empowering Communities: HPV Education and Screening Project which will aid in reducing the prevalence of HPV-related diseases in Guyana’s Indigenous and Under-resourced communities.
The Greater Guyana Initiative is a US$100 million investment by the Stabroek Block Co-Venturers – ExxonMobil Guyana Limited, Hess Guyana Exploration Limited and CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Limited to build capacity across Guyana, demonstrating their commitment to Guyana’s development beyond their investment in the Oil and Gas Sector.
