PLANT and genetic resources specialist, Dr. Theodore Keisha, of Washington State University in the United States (U.S.) will operationalise a laboratory to facilitate DNA monitoring and analysis locally.

National Agriculture Research Institute (NARI) Director, Dr. Oudho Homenauth said the facility will be housed at the Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara complex.

He said the expert has brought additional equipment to complement what NARI already has to get the facility up and running.

Homenauth said the installation should be completed today and training of staff will commence tomorrow.

He disclosed that the paraphernalia acquired by Keisha will help NARI to scientifically analyse the various crops and categorise them in the approved manner.

Homenauth said another expert in the field, Dr. Karen Williams, also from Washington State University, will look at the maintenance of field crop species collection at facilities in St. Ignatius, Region Nine (Upper Takutu/Upper Essequibo); Ebini in Region 10 (Upper Demerara/Berbice) and Kairuni on the Soedyke/Linden Highway in Region Four (Demerara/ Mahaica).

The NARI Director said, apart from the experts’ support, NARI’s skills base will be expanded and the institution would also save on expenses to send staffers overseas to be trained.

He said the initiative is in keeping with the Ministry of Agriculture’s diversification programme, which seeks to employ state-of-the-art farming technologies to bolster production in the sector.

Expertise
Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud, on whom the specialists paid a courtesy call at his Regent Street and Vlissengen Road, Georgetown Office, said their expertise has come at a critical time when efforts are being made to not only improve on research but enhance infrastructural development.

He said he is hoping that the laboratory project fulfills his ministry’s long term goals in the area of plant health, as well.

Persaud emphasised that the focus is to give NARI a more expanded role in the disciplines of plant health and crops and the experts’ input will be vital to the pursuit.

However, he advised scholars to make their work relevant in Guyana’s context and look to develop species that can withstand the effects of climate change.

Persaud praised the assistance of U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Washington State University, pointing out that the two have provided support to boost the work of his ministry which operates on limited resources.

The minister said, too, that the Ministry is looking to increase exports and will be trying to get some local facilities certified by USDA, confident that, with its support, Guyana will be more visible on the global trade map.