-to strengthen and build extension services capacity
OVER 100 service providers and stakeholders gathered yesterday at the Guyana School of Agriculture (GSA) at Mon Repos for a workshop organised by the Agriculture Ministry with the aim of improving the extension services and service providers’ ability to assist farmers across the country while strengthening and building capacity of extension services.

During the course of the seminar, agents were given the opportunity to interact with Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud, who is presently performing the duties of Prime Minister, and officials from the Ministry on various agriculture initiatives presented at the session.

Minister Persaud, while addressing the gathering, told them that they are operating in a dynamic sector that is in the throes of a transformation process and that the extension service is a critical element in realizing and successfully undertaking that process and that such a workshop will provide a chance for officers to improve their ability and to interact and exchange ideas.

“We need to look at arrangements that will allow you to be responsive, to be effective and to be able to get the job done,” he said.

While acknowledging that the agriculture sector is dynamic and growing with expanding needs, Minister Persaud said that officers need be cognizant that the expectations of farmers are changing.

“From the presentations that you will receive today I am quite sure that at the end of the day that understanding would be there…and certainly your recognition of the critical role you play in programmes and initiatives,” he said.

The Agriculture Minister said, despite the changes in farmers’ need, his Ministry has been substantially increasing its investment within the sector.

He said over the past two years, the Ministry has been able to increase the number of extension officers through programmes and collaborative efforts between the Governments of Guyana and Cuba to produce the necessary skills needed for the sector.

The Minister also used the opportunity to provide an update on the livestock authority which has been set to be constituted on July 1 where the Crops and Livestock department will be merged into the National Agricultural Research Institute (NARI) where the department will fall under the purview of NARI.

He said a decision has been made to put together a professional body to manage the transition process in the creation of the Livestock Authority.

“We are going to do sound technical work that addresses the human resource and institutional issues,” the Minister stated.

The process, he noted, will entail looking at the requisite skills needed and qualification and performance of persons over time.

“Every single position within the new entity will be first offered to people who are already here once you have the right match…this exercise will tell us who we have and their capabilities,” he said.

The seminar also saw presentations made by Project Coordinator, Sattie Sasenarine who provided an overview of the Agricultural Diversification Programme (ADP), Director, NARI Dr. Oudho Homenauth on the Incorporation of Crops Division into NARI and Organizational Strengthening Specialist, Daune Pratt on Organizational Strengthening and capacity building of extension services. (GINA)