Science, technology will unlock agri potential for contribution to economy
President Ramotar unveils the plaque of the Bio Technology Tissue Control Laboratory
President Ramotar unveils the plaque of the Bio Technology Tissue Control Laboratory

…says President Ramotar

THE application of science and technology to agricultural production will unlock the full potential of the sector for sustained contribution to economic and social prosperity, President Donald Ramotar said yesterday.

President Ramotar examines a piece of equipment at the Tissue Culture lab; looking on are Dr Leslie Ramsammy, Ms Sophie Makonnen IDB Country Representative and Dr Homenauth CEO of NAREI
President Ramotar examines a piece of equipment at the Tissue Culture lab; looking on are Dr Leslie Ramsammy, Ms Sophie Makonnen IDB Country Representative and Dr Homenauth CEO of NAREI

The occasion was the commissioning of two state -of-the-art plant laboratories in the compound of the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) at Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara.
The two new lab, one a Tissue Culture Lab and the other a Bio-Control Lab, will among other tasks, advance the work of the NAREI in identifying and providing top-quality planting materials for farmers as well as ensuring that agricultural commodities destined for export markets meet the phyto sanitary requirements of importing countries.
President Donald Ramotar delivered the feature address at the commissioning ceremony, which included a background to the projects by Dr. Oudho Homenauth CEO of NAREI and remarks by Minister of Agriculture, Dr Leslie Ramsammy.
The gathering included members of the Diplomatic Corps, farmers and senior officials within the agricultural sector.

A section of the gathering at the Commissioning ceremony for the two labs,.
A section of the gathering at the Commissioning ceremony for the two labs,.

In his feature address, President Ramotar noted that establishment of the laboratories is aimed at the application of science and technology to drive agricultural production, both for local consumption and for export markets.

“We have huge possibilities in agriculture. We have lands and we have fresh water and therefore we have huge scope and big possibilities in developing this sector in a major way,” he said.

The laboratories will also boost Guyana’s eligibility to export agricultural commodities to regional and international markets.
He said: “There is the changing nature of the market for food internationally and locally. There is a growing health awareness of people. People are becoming more conscious about what they eat and what they need to eat to keep healthy.
“Therefore labs like these become extremely important in these modern times for us to produce and develop safe foods for our people and for the markets

Another section of the gathering at the commissioning ceremony.
Another section of the gathering at the commissioning ceremony.

that we will sell to.”
He said that Guyana would like to move from being an agricultural country to becoming an industrial country too.
“The use of science and technology in agriculture will give us a jump-start in this regard.”
Dr. Leslie Ramsammy said that the late Dr. Cheddi Jagan had 50 years ago advanced the vision of using science and technology as a driving force for agriculture.

The President being briefed on the operations of the Bio Control lab
The President being briefed on the operations of the Bio Control lab

He said: “These labs represent another step in Guyana towards realising these aspirations; towards further concretization of the vision to make science and technology in agriculture contribute meaningfully to our development and towards improving the lives of all.”
He disclosed that one of the goals of the commissioned laboratories is to produce over 10,000 disease- free plantain plants between now and 2015.
“These are plants that will have resistance to black sigatoka disease for example and thus improve production and productivity among vegetable farmers; make exports possible” he said.
Facilities at the labs will also help to determine whether materials such as seeds are of the required quality.
Dr. Oudho Homenauth CEO of NAREI disclosed that the commissioning of the labs is indeed a milestone for the sector.
“The operationalising of the labs is in tandem with our agriculture strategy of modernising the sector, so that it can become on par with what prevails internationally. With this development the incorporation of science and technology which is an important facet in agricultural development will be given

Looking at specimens of pests which affect agricultural crops in Guyana.
Looking at specimens of pests which affect agricultural crops in Guyana.

more prominence.”
The laboratories, he said, have the capacity for real- time screening and molecular analysis of scores of plant samples within hours for monitoring purposes, as well as for early detection of any diseases..
The tissue -culture lab will increase the capacity of NAREI to produce tissue- culture plants for agricultural production, boosting this production from 50,000 plantlets annually to in excess of 200,000 annually.

More specimens of pests
More specimens of pests

It will also be the means through which new and improved varieties of plants such as sweet potatoes, yams and plantains can be transferred into Guyana from other countries. The Bio Control lab is designed to protect Guyana’s agriculture from destruction by exotic pests and diseases.
It will also ensure, for the first time in Guyana, that agricultural commodities exported conform to the phyto-sanitary requirements of importing countries, which is a requirement for Guyana as an exporting country.
The work of the laboratory will assure regional and international trading partners that our fruits and vegetables are free of pesticide residue , Homenauth said.

Project Coordinator Mr. Dhaneshwar James disclosed that the projects had been funded by way of a US$20M loan to the Government of Guyana from the Inter –

More specimens of pests
More specimens of pests

American Development Bank (IDB).
Both President Ramotar and Minister of Agriculture Dr Leslie Ramsammy yesterday publicly expressed their appreciation and gratitude to the IDB for giving Guyana the loan to make the two laboratories possible.

More specimens of pests
More specimens of pests

(By Clifford Stanley)

Project Manager Dhaneshwar James at the commissioning ceremony
Project Manager Dhaneshwar James at the commissioning ceremony
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