…90 per cent of 2010 projections realised

Director of the National Agricultural Research Institute (NARI), Dr Oudho Homenauth deems 2010 as a “fairly satisfactory” year for the facility.
Dr Homenauth said that 90 per cent of the projections for 2010 was realised.
One major areas of endeavour, Dr Homenauth said, was the revitalization of the coconut industry.
Under this thrust, Homenauth explained that emphasis was placed on improving the agronomy of coconuts and advising farmers on management practices to improve production and productivity.
He added that Farmers Field Schools (FFS) were conducted in Pomeroon, Region Two (Pomeroon/ Supenaam); Bendorff, Hogg Island and Wakenaam, Region Three (Essequibo Islands/ West Demerara); and Number 35 village in Region Six (East Berbice/ Corentyne).

The NARI Director stated that 24 farmers are currently involved in fertilizer trials on their estates and a similar number are engaged in intercropping activities to advance the coconut industry’s thrust.
According to him, the Musa Disease Management Programme also saw successes.
The programme was implemented to manage the suspected Black Sigatoka disease affecting plantains.
Homenauth reported that surveys of all infected areas were completed, an educational programme to train farmers on the management of the disease is ongoing, and chemicals are being distributed to affected farmers free of cost.
He said about $8M has so far been expended on the programme, and the plots of 281 farmers were sprayed, a total of 1640 acres.
The NARI Director stated that the spices project saw some revamping with its ongoing expansion of production, especially in hinterland communities.
There are 35 farmers in Region One (Barima/ Waini) currently involved in ginger, turmeric, black pepper and nutmeg (20 acres) cultivation.
According to him, locally produced turmeric is expected in early January/February, 2011.
He pointed also to the Institute’s support of cassava utilization and stated that studies on the use of cassava as an ingredient in poultry feed were successfully completed.
Homenauth added that additional studies are being conducted using cassava as the main
ingredient in urea blocks as supplemental feed for cattle, which is intended to replace urea-molasses blocks, especially for use in hinterland communities.
Also, in 2010, Guyana became a member of the Latin America and Caribbean Consortium on cassava (CLAYUCA) and a programme to support cassava development was formulated.
In dealing with livestock farmers, Homenauth reported that the second phase of the Texel/Texana programme was implemented.
According to him, 150 inseminations done, the 75 per cent cross produced, which was one of the main aims of the programme, was realized and a total of 150 breeding rams were distributed to farming communities in the various regions.
Additionally, an Agro processing Manual was developed in collaboration with
the Ministry of Agriculture and the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA).

New Technology

Dr Homenauth said the three main areas of focus this year, as it relates to new technology, are hydroponics and shade housees, as well as aquaponics, to some extent.

He explained that these technologies were captured, refined and transferred to the sector’s stakeholders.
To undertake this, three additional greenhouses were constructed at Mon Repos in Region Four (Demerara/ Mahaica), Lesbeholden in Region Six (East Berbice/ Corentyne) and Kairuni in Region 10 (Upper Demerara/ Berbice), at a cost of $2.5M, in collaboration with the Humanity Aid Programme.
According to him, these will serve as demonstration/training facilities for farmers.
He stressed that the advancement of new agricultural technologies at the Institute is directly aimed at the enhancement of livelihoods of the average farmer.
Coupled with technologies, he stated that the technical services offered by NARI have impacted farmers’ operations in a significant way.
With support from the Rural Enterprise and Agriculture Development (READ) Project,
Homenauth said the technical services included Service Providers Training – Pest Risk Analysis; Technical Services Provider Training; Sheep and Goat Association – Training; and Pest and Disease Identification Booklets (pepper, pumpkin, plantain and pineapple).

NARI in 2011

As for the future, the NARI Director indicated that demonstration facilities will be established in all 10 regions in Guyana, as part of the process through which technology developed by NARI is transferred.
Homenauth highlighted that the demonstration facilities will be four to five acre plots and initially there will be eight facilities constructed.
He pointed out that this is a part of the food security strategy and added that Rockstone, in Region 10, is one of the first villages to benefit from the construction of the new facilities.
According to him, the support provided by the new facilities will not just be how to manage plants, but will see farmers receiving advice on addressing problems in a comprehensive way.
He explained that the idea is to have a model to show the people the technology so that they can make use of it and improve their livelihoods.

The NARI Director added that other major plans for 2011 include the expansion of the Four P’s (pepper, pumpkin, plantain and pineapple) Programme and advances in plant pathology and delivery of such support to farmers.
He noted too that with the restructuring and modernization of the Institute, farmers and other sector stakeholders can expect an improved delivery of services.
The National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) Bill was passed last Thursday, in the National Assembly.
According to him, the new Institute is expected to make the link between research and extension.
“With the new focus on extension, we have better feedback, which will inform research we do…we are moving forward,” Homenauth said.
The renewed focus is expected to provide greater efficiency in the crops and agricultural product industry and to provide enhanced services in agricultural research, extension and crop protection.
Also the new Institute is expected to be a more efficient and proactive agency, responsible to an export driven agriculture sector and consolidating food security, especially in the hinterland.
“Modernizing the sector is the bottom line,” Homenauth stressed.