Saint Lucia businessman Rayneau Gajadhar is considering selling agricultural produce to the Sandals resort, which opens in St. Vincent and the Grenadines on March 27.
Gajadhar founded Rayneau Industries Limited to export agricultural products. The company wants to aggregate agricultural products in St. Vincent & Grenadines.
Gajadhar told St. Lucia Times that no agreement had been made to supply Sandals. “We are in negotiations,” he said.
“Like any other location we believe will purchase the product from us, we have approached them,” Gajadhar said. Rayneau Industries Limited began buying and redistributing all Saint Vincent and the Grenadines agricultural products over a year ago.
Gajadhar said area farmers have not had a good agricultural product aggregator since Geest Industries, despite diversifying away from bananas. He told St. Lucia Times that Vincentian Agriculture Minister Saboto Caesar was’very forceful’ in assuring farmers’ success.
“After discussions with him, we decided that I would purchase all agricultural products and redistribute them,” the Saint Lucia merchant said. Our model differs since we buy all agricultural products. Gajadhar said we want more than grade one.
Due of production issues, some farms may not meet standards, he warned. While buying all agricultural produce, Gajadhar claimed his company will pay different prices for different quality categories.
He said, “We are now sorting it and distributing it to the various clients based on what they are willing to accept.”
Gajadhar stated the initiative performed nicely. I find it very intriguing that farmers are paid immediately. It’s not like you’re bringing things and waiting for payment tomorrow, the Saint Lucia trader added.
