Presented in parliament…
– Homenauth
PRIME Minister Samuel Hinds, last Thursday, presented the 2009 National Agricultural Research Institute (NARI) Report to the National Assembly.
In an invited comment, the Director of NARI, Dr. Oudho Homenauth said 2009 was one of the institution’s better years and sticking to its strategic plan resulted in significant successes.
The compilation said the year saw some reorganisation of the work to reflect the current focus of the Ministry of Agriculture and the research departments in operation are Crop Development, Livestock Production and Breed Enhancement and Post-Harvest and Agro-Processing.
The Climate Change and Adaptation Unit was added last year, to transfer appropriate technologies in an effort to bolster how it adapts to the global phenomenon.
Homenauth explained that, given the national focus as it relates to climate change, the Unit’s introduction was timely and its general objectives are to transfer technologies the adaptation and mitigation in the agriculture sector; train farmers and other stakeholders to use the technologies adopted or formulated and collaborate with the national and international agencies working on the frontline of the fight.
He said the Guyana National Mangrove Restoration Project (GMRP), to manage, restore and protect mangroves, was one of NARI’s new initiatives in 2009.
According to him, the Government’s recent inclusion of climate change considerations in public policy has been enshrined in the Low Carbon Development Strategy (2009) where there is a central focus on forest conservation, including the protection of the substantial mangrove belts along the coast and estuaries.

New activities

Under the GMRP the National Mangrove Management Action Plan presents a concise overview of the key issues related to the sustainable management of the national mangrove forests and Homenauth said other new activities initiated and highlighted in the compendium, include:

* the Coconut Revitalisation Programme, which seeks to revamp that industry in Guyana;

* the Musa Disease Management Unit (MDMU), established last year to deal specifically with the management of plantain and banana diseases nationally;

* focus on new livestock breed, with specific emphasis on breed enhancement, especially with the Textel and crossbred sheep;

* the utilisation of cassava as an ingredient in poultry feed, done after research was conducted in collaboration with Bounty Farm and

* focus on boosting hinterland food security through the Moco Moco Rive/Beans Projects, through a partnership with Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB), among others.
Major focus
Homenauth said those initiatives have seen successes and are ongoing and other major focus areas during last year were emphasis on spices, particularly in Region One (Barima/Waini); support to the Private Sector and training to bolster continued professional development.
He disclosed that more advances are being made, currently, to further enhance NARI’s role in the agriculture sector’s thrust and to build on the enhancements piloted in 2009.
According to the report, reorganisation of operations were undertaken in NARI facilities at Timehri, East Bank Demerara, designated as a Research and Training Facility, in addition to its functions as a nursery and St. Ignatius in Region Nine (Upper Takutu/ Upper Essequibo), redesignated the NARI Research and Development Centre.
Homenauth said: “The nature of these facilities was essentially to serve as a nursery, but with the enhancement they now address production and research, as well as serve as demonstration sites where new technologies are transferred.”
He said the impact of these innovations go straight to the ground level, for the benefit of not only farmers but also schools.
“Instead of coming all the way to Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara, those interested have the facilities at the different locations at their disposal,” Homenauth said.
NARI, essentially, captures, refines and disseminates appropriate technologies, as they relate to new agricultural practices.