MINISTER of Agriculture, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy has committed to the realisation of a sister school at the Guyana School of Agriculture (GSA) with the aim of enhancing and progressing the institution’s agriculture research capacity and capability. Minister Ramsammy made this promise whilst delivering the key note address at the institution’s 48th convocation last evening in Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara. The minister was at the time lamenting the need for the institution and the School of Agriculture at the University of Guyana to have more investments and upgrading towards delivering students who are better prepared to face the agriculture challenges and to take the sector forward.
“Both need more investments, further curriculum development and upgrading,” the minister said.
He stated that the upgrading needs to be facilitated especially as it relates to training programmes offered at the institutions to the students.
He said this would mean, on the part of the government “taking a good look at our facilities,” towards ensuring that “places like GSA and the University of Guyana play a pivotal role in the introduction of technology to the students for agriculture development.”
The Agriculture Minister said that, Guyana “needs more technology in the agriculture sector and that, schools like GSA and School of Agriculture, UG must play a leading role in the introduction of this technology to the sector.”
Speaking specifically to GSA, he said that, “GSA must not be a bystander when it comes to agriculture research… must not only be known for the students it graduates but, must also be known for the research that comes out of this institution.”
The minister said that “a strong research focus at GSA will ensure that the institution graduates better students, who are better prepared for the agricultural challenges of tomorrow.”
He challenged the faculty and board of the institution to work with him towards realisation of a sister school and towards the outcome of ensuring that “research is not just merely small peripheral activity at the school but, an integral commitment of the services delivered.”
GSA was established in 1963 towards the aim of promoting and developing agriculture through technological advancement and the theoretical and practical training of young people has allowed thousands of students to be certified in the field of agriculture.
Last evening 111 students graduated having successfully completed various courses of study at the institution’s Mon Repos and Essequibo campuses.