RECOGNISING the need for enhancing the knowledge and capabilities of students in the field of Agricultural Science, the Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA) donated 200 newly hatched ‘Black Giant’ chicks to the Agricultural Science Department of Three Miles Secondary School in Bartica.

The GLDA is an arm of the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI), which has several branches spread across the country, especially in rural areas where agriculture is a common practice.

The handing over was done on Friday last by the Acting Regional Coordinator of the Bartica branch of the GLDA, David Pusselwhyte.

Pusselwhyte said that the ‘Black Giant’ species are dual purpose in nature, meaning that they can be used for both meat purposes and for laying eggs. This, he said, is a rare type of bird and is high in demand countrywide. Hence, he admonished the students and teachers to take good care and give the necessary attention needed to ensure that the birds serve their purpose.

Pusselwhyte also said that if the birds are reared in keeping with all the essential standards, the school can go on to become a supplier in the immediate region.

The Head of the Agricultural Science Department, Durmeda Hernandez, expressed thanks to all those responsible for making the initiative a reality; she also charged her students to maintain due care and responsibility for the chicks.

She told the Guyana Chronicle that this donation will do a lot to the department and the school at large, when it comes to the readiness of the students for broiler production and grading eggs.

“These birds will assist both the double and single-award agriculture students of our school to complete the animal-production skills which are part of their School Based Assessment (SBA) for CXC. Grading eggs in particular, is one of the skills we weren’t able to do as yet, because we hadn’t the type of bird to complete same; so now we can do that with the students,” Hernandez said.

She also mentioned that the birds are so modified, that there are many things that the entire school can learn when it comes to dealing with birds of that type.

“The entire school will be taking care of the birds because students from Forms One to Five, agriculture is part of the curriculum; they can benefit with so much knowledge in taking care of dual-purpose chickens. Like they can use kitchen waste to feed them, and many more interesting things,” she said.

Although the department is receiving boosts in different aspects, Hernandez said that there is urgent need for a farm hand.

“When the students are away from school, especially during the August vacation, there is no one there to take care of the produce, and that is for both animal and plant production. Some of the students may volunteer to come during their holiday to take care of their produce, but there still should be a farm hand present to assist when the students are not there,” Hernandez stressed.

This is something that will be looked into by the relevant authorities, so that the students’ work can be preserved, and it will also help to ensure that the productions are successful.