THE Guyana School of Agriculture (GSA), on Tuesday, graduated a batch of 111 students during its 48th convocation at the institution in Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara at which the agriculture sector’s impact on the economy was highlighted. In attendance were graduates and their parents; Minister of Agriculture Dr. Leslie Ramsammy; Permanent Secretary George Jarvis and Minister of Legal Affairs and Attorney-General Anil Nandlall.
Minister Ramsammy, delivering the keynote address, said government continues to invest in training persons, in particular for careers in the agriculture sector in recognition of the fact that the sector has helped the country to move from least developing to today being a middle-income country, with the potential to continue the movement to an even higher middle-income status.
Minister Ramsammy said this movement however, will not happen unless agriculture in Guyana becomes more productive and is not just about  “feeding our people” but becomes a drive towards “going from a low-income country to a high middle-income country and  generating wealth for our families.”
The minister stated that this increased production will be realised with better land utilisation for agriculture, and with better use of technology and more experience and young people in the agriculture sector.
He said that this therefore speaks to the government’s investments in training in the sector.
“Our task is very clear… countries that are so reliant on agriculture will fail unless they invest in agriculture training,” the minister said.
He added that Guyana got it right in the early 1960s   when it decided to invest in the GSA and it has gotten it right in sustaining investment in agriculture training.
Minister Anil Nandlall, who delivered the charge to the graduates this year, also reminded them of their importance, not only to the development of the agriculture sector but, Guyana as a whole.
He told them that they were graduating in an exciting time in the country’s history and in the world economic order when they would have to make a contribution to the global agenda of food security.
“You are important because you will contribute significantly to the agriculture sector, a sector that holds the future for Guyana and you are important because you are part of our plan for future Guyana as young people,” Minister Nandlall said.
He reminded them that agriculture has been the backbone of the Guyanese economy and, as well, formed part of the social fabric of the country and, they were therefore graduating “to serve a sector whose importance is indelibly marked in our country’s historical revolution and our country’s social and cultural architecture.”
Minister Nandlall urged the graduates to appreciate the environment to which they will be inducted, and to understand the challenges and the bright future that lies ahead of them in the sector.
He counselled that they move forward with the aim of enacting government’s vision of them playing their roles in designing, architecturing and charting the course of the future Guyana.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of GSA, Brian Greenidge, in his brief address, thanked the staff of the institution for their continued support throughout the year and, encouraged them to continue to work together and support each other for the further success of the institution.
He told the batch to continue to go forward in life but to do so, they must embrace a disciplined life with the overall goal of success.
Chairman of GSA, Rudolph Gajraj, expressed satisfaction with the institution’s continued success. Like Greenidge, he also spoke to the dedication and commitment of the school’s staff and faculty and praised them for achieving and upholding the exemplary status that the school currently holds among tertiary learning institutions in Guyana.
Gajraj also highlighted some pressing matters of concern that require urgent attention among which was the quality of the institution’s entrants.
He said that some of the entrants’ performances in the core subject areas of English and Mathematics and the Natural Sciences remains below expectations and suggested remedying this by enlarging the school’s remedial programme.
Gajraj also said the school’s fisheries course is running with a small number and that a solution to this problem needs to be found before the commencement of the next school year.  Attracting students from the hinterland, particularly Region 8 is a problem, he said.
The students successfully completed the following programmes at the GSA institutions across the country – Diploma in Agriculture; (Mon Repos) with 28 graduates, (Essequibo) five graduates, Diploma in Animal Health and Veterinary Public Health 12 graduates, Certificate in Agriculture 15 graduates, Certificate in Fisheries three graduates, Certificate in Forestry (Mon Repo) 23 graduates and (Essequibo) 25 graduates.
Graduates’ award for Best Overall Performance included in the Diploma in Agriculture; (Mon Repos) Andrew Amin, (Essequibo) Moneshwar Chandrapaul, Certificate in Agriculture, Tawana Patrick, Diploma in Animal Health and Veterinary Public Health Jamila Morgan, Certificate in Forestry (Mon Repos) Donnica Thornhill, (Essequibo) Melissa Retemiah and Certificate in Fisheries Studies Anthony Seepersaud.
The Chief Executive Officer’s prize went to Andrew Amin and the Chairman’s Prize to Melissa Retemiah.
No student meet the criteria to be awarded the Gold Medal Prize which is offered to the student who performs outstandingly in the areas of academic and practical work and campus community service.