GEORGETOWN, Guyana (CMC) – Jamaica-based H&L Agro and Guyana’s Agricultural & Public Health Solutions (APSOL) have signed an agreement to help develop and sustain agriculture in the Caribbean Community (Caricom) country.

The agreement was signed on Sunday, the final day of the Caribbean Agri-Investment forum and expo which was held in Guyana.

APSOL provides seedlings, seeds, chemicals and special agricultural support to farmers and plant enthusiasts, while H&L Agro is regarded as Jamaica’s largest retailer and wholesaler of building materials, home improvement supplies and agricultural inputs.

The partnership will result in APSOL distributing H&L products, including potting soil which they will be supplying to Guyana market. It will also result in people being employed in Guyana to aid in educating consumers, particularly farmers on the use of the products.

The deputy chief executive officer of H&L Group, Olive Downer Walsh, said the partnership is of “extreme” importance and value to the company.

“It’s not just about getting the products sold. It’s about how we are going to work together as we seek to drive that 25 percent by 2025 vision. While we have been on a journey to realise our vision, the timing is now. A time when the leadership of a country and throughout the region are focusing on ensuring that we as a Caribbean are focusing on building resilience,” Downer Walsh said

APSOL managing director, Alvin Parag said he is excited to have the partnership and anticipate that it will expand overtime not only in Guyana but in other Caribbean countries.

“There are bigger things coming to the Guyana market through this partnership. We will not rest until we achieve the product range to be sustainable. No one company, no one individual can handle this level of abundance that we are seeing,” Parag stated.

Under the partnership, both companies said all activities will be done in keeping with Caricom’s vision to reduce the food import bill by 25 per cent by 2025.