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GSA to launch agro-processing course in September
The Guyana School of Agriculture (GSA) is set to pursue a course in Agro-processing when the new school year commences in September.
According to the institution’s Chief Executive Officer, Brian Greenidge, the course which has a-one year duration (three terms) will be delivered by one “fully qualified” trainer. He said that so far, seven persons have already registered to become Agro-processors, and that number is expected to go up.
Greenidge said that the programme is designed to satisfy the requirements of the Agro-processing industry, as well as impart knowledge and skills that will enable graduates to not only become employees, but employers as well.
“Graduates can, and will set up their own enterprises and become creators of employment instead of seekers of employment,” Greenidge noted.
GSA’s CEO, Brian Greenidge.
He explained that the objectives of the programme are to expose students to the requirements of the commercial Agro-processing operations; to the practical aspects of food productions; to provide the necessary competence to allow students to start their own businesses; and to increase the number of agro-processing plants in the country.
The CEO added that upon completion of the programme, students should be able to establish and competently manage a processing plant; develop and market new products; understand the dynamics of the processing industry, and test and evaluate the new food products and the market.
Meanwhile, Agriculture Minister, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy had said that his Ministry has been working with the University of Guyana to ensure greater collaboration so as to encourage more students to complete their degrees in the field of Agriculture.
So far, agro-processing of several products is successfully done locally by a number of individuals and companies. The products range from sauces to dried and powdered products.
Ramsammy said that in order to develop the thriving Agriculture Sector, it is necessary for Guyana to venture further into processing agricultural products; not only for the processing of fruits and vegetables, but even milk and ground provisions and plantains.
He said that although Guyana imports plantains, it can be processed, packaged, and sold both locally and internationally.
Also, late last year, Ramsammy had announced that the Ministry of Agriculture will be placing much emphasis on the potential of spices, and coconut by-products.
In June, the Guyana Marketing Corporation (GMC) hosted a “Grand Coconut Exposition” to display a number of by-products from local agro-processors.
Some of these products included roofing tiles made from coconut husk, extra virgin coconut oil, coconut base wine, coconut butter, coconut flakes, ornaments, kitchen utensils, jewelry and coconut-based chemicals that are used to make cosmetics and pharmaceutical products.
A company called Phoenix Enterprises has been the pioneers of bottling and exporting coconut water in Guyana since 2004. The “refreshing bottled water” has since been receiving rave reviews from many, according to one of its owners.
Collectively, agro-processors complain of packaging being a major challenge. This was later realized by Dr. Maxine Parris-Aaron, Agricultural Health, and Food Safety Specialist of Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), who, following a recently concluded workshop, said that local agro-processors need help with packaging and labeling. She noted that packaging is sometimes the major attraction for a product.
GSA’s CEO Greenidge said that the school’s new agro-processing course will also deal with the types of packaging, and materials used for packaging, as well as labeling.
Dr. Ramsammy had stated that while there is really nothing holding Guyana back from also canning its own fruits and vegetables, the equipment and technology needed will require heavy investment.
It was also urged that local agro-processors familiarize themselves with the Guyana Agro-processor’s Association, which was set up in 2009 with the objective of ensuring the establishment of common standards and practices among agro-processors within the “non-traditional agricultural sector”.
The association’s efforts are geared towards providing low cost financing and developing new and innovative products and packaging facilities.
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