NARI displays research capability

Oct 11, 2008 News

It was a day of display for agricultural agencies at the Guyana School of Agriculture when the National Agricultural Research Institute and the Pesticide and Toxic Chemicals Control Board hosted an Open Day yesterday.

Crops, livestock and various types of technology in the sector were on exhibit, as students and farmers from various parts of the country travelled to the Mon Repos School of Agriculture for the demonstration.

As the activities were under way yesterday, there were similar exercises being carried out in various parts of the country.

Addressing the gathering at the exhibition yesterday, Director of NARI, Dr. Oudho Homenauth, said that the event was intended to allow for the public to become more familiar with some of the technologies at the institute for the benefit of farmers.

He said that it is important that Guyanese get accustomed to new technologies that are applicable to local conditions.

According to Dr. Homenauth, NARI has been incorporating and importing technologies from more developed countries, while adapting the expertise in Guyana and transferring it to farming communities.

Over the past year, he said, there has been significant development in the livestock program. He cited the induction of the Texel breed of sheep as one of those improvements.

Parents and teachers were encouraged to visit the research facility more often, and so experience some of the transformation and activities that are taking place within the agriculture sector.

Among the exhibits on display yesterday were honey, pepper and guava processing, dip and sprinkle irrigation technology, recently bred Texel sheep, along within a display of recommendations for plant diseases, insect pest and weed.

Minister of Agriculture, Robert Persaud, was present at thee Open Day, and he made a special appeal to farmers to make full use of the facilities at NARI.

According to Persaud, many research and trials of various technologies and techniques are carried out at NARI for the benefit of the farming community.

The Agriculture Minister noted that NARI has been collaborating with a number of external agencies, since Guyana’s ability to conduct original research is very limited.

“That is why we have been looking at countries which have successfully embarked on, and conducted, relevant agricultural research, or have introduced relevant agricultural technology that suits our environment, and to see whether we can have those implemented and adapted for our environment,” Persaud said.

At present, he added, Guyana is seeking to expand its bi-lateral and multilateral cooperation arrangements with a number of agencies and countries.

Currently, Persaud said, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carolyn Rodrigues, is in Brazil negotiating with the Brazilian Government for four new agricultural support projects.

Two of those will directly relate to NARI, and will allow for the improvement and increase of capacity to provide much more support for farmers in terms of research and technology.

Addressing the issue of value added products, Persaud said that he is hoping that the sector will move from primary production towards supporting more processing and packaging activities.

He added that NARI will be shifting its focus on intensifying efforts towards value added and agro-processing.

“We do hope — that if we are successful as a country — to be able to acquire cheap and reliable electricity (hydro power) that would be a catalyst for processing and agro-processing sector to allow for value added.”

Because of the greater interest in agriculture, Persaud said, NARI and all the other agencies in the agricultural sector will have to ‘step up’ and be able to provide support to Guyana realizing of a major food producer in the region.

NARI is mandated to provide information and services for the development and sustainability of the agricultural sector in Guyana.

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NARI displays research capability

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