New Agro-processing facility boosts entrepreneurship in T&T

New Agro-processing facility boosts entrepreneurship in T&T

PLANS Agroprocessing Facility opened the newest agro-processing facility in Trinidad and Tobago on October 17th 2022.

Born of a partnership between the founder of SARR Distributors, Ms. Rayanna Boodram and retired Commissioner of Prisons, Mr. Dennis Pulchan, PLANS is designed to be a fully certified facility that makes agro-processing training and equipment accessible to SMEs for low-cost processing and packaging of their raw materials. InvesTT initiated the participation of SARR Distributors at the Agri-Investment Forum and Expo II held in August 2022 and also facilitated the collaboration between the two parties.  

In picture: Ms. Rayanna Boodram, Co-Founder & COO of PLANS Agro-Processing Facility.

Born out of a need for agro-processing solutions in T&T

PLANS Agroprocessing Facility was conceptualized when the need for Agro-processing solutions was at its highest in Trinidad and Tobago. Mr. Dennis Pulchan had a keen interest in agriculture and upon his successful completion of 40 years in the prison service, he had the desire to give back to society in a meaningful way. He created a business model where agri-entrepreneurs can benefit through subsidized services and merged ideas with Rayanna Boodram to co-found PLANS Agroprocessing facility. Today, PLANS provides subsidized Agro-processing needs to many SMEs in Phase One of its operation.

According to Sekou Alleyne, President InvesTT – “We issued a call for agri-tech projects in July prior to the Agri-Investment Forum and Expo with the aim of facilitating business to business meetings for selected companies at the Forum. SARR Distributors shared their project with us, we conducted a site visit and they made the list to have us promote it during the Expo. We are pleased to see that they have now launched their operation in Cunupia.”

A boost for local SMEs

Local SMEs operating in the agro-processing industry can now benefit from production services offered by PLANS which include rental of workstations at the facility, rental of cold storage for products, consultations, marketing solutions and business development strategies.

“Our vision at PLANS Agroprocessing is to provide technical support to small and medium-sized agro-processors by offering subsidized services within the facility,” says Ms. Boodram. She further explained that the company’s mission is to enhance food processing technologies and the application of food science concepts in Trinidad and Tobago. “We aim to promote economic stabilization by boosting agri-entrepreneurship in the local agricultural and manufacturing sector.”

 

"InvesTT is extremely helpful and encouraging"

Regarding her experience with InvesTT, Ms. Boodram lauded the agency, stating, “I would definitely recommend them. They are extremely helpful and encouraging. The staff are courteous and very knowledgeable.” Ms. Boodram went on the share that she looks forward to a long and fruitful relationship with InvesTT as PLANS Agro-processing Facility moves in to Phase Two of its operations in 2023.

InvesTT also provided relevant information to the company on agricultural incentives, duty concessions and grant funding opportunities and assisted with their recruitment drive via social media marketing. The agency is currently providing further support in advancing the export-readiness of the facility.

PLANS Agro-processing Facility is located on Munroe Road, Cunupia.

Contact PLANS

For more information, please contact PLANS at 868-318-8387 or 868-707-3270. You can also email them at plansfacility@outlook.com