Over 100 students recently graduated from the Guyana School of Agriculture (GSA) which has a proud history of providing training in agriculture not only for locals but also from the Caribbean Region. This institution, a product of the vision of the late President Dr Cheddi Jagan, who from his earliest days in politics was a strong advocate of agriculture being the means of transforming Guyana. As such, as soon as he entered government he began working assiduously towards laying the foundation for an agricultural take-off. And agriculture did take off during the late 1950s and 1960s, earning Guyana the proud title of being the breadbasket of the Caribbean.  Unfortunately, when his government was removed in 1964 it signaled the beginning of the destruction of the agriculture sector.
At the recent graduation ceremony of GSA, Agriculture Minister Dr Leslie Ramsammy made a most pertinent commitment to the establishment of a sister school for agricultural research.
“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,”  Dr Ramsammy exhorted.
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.”
The minister has hit the nail on its head because agriculture is not like what it was in the long gone past. Today it is driven by science and technology because it is not simply about producing food. It is about producing high quality and safe food, employment, and trade and commerce.
So there is no way any country would achieve the requisite advancements in agriculture if there are not adequate scientific research facilities and capacity.
Director, FAO Research, Extension and Training Division, Louise O. Fresco notes: “There has been a tremendous development of agricultural research in developing countries over the past few decades, during which time investment in agricultural research from both national resources and international assistance has increased markedly. However, agricultural research institutions are generally managed by veteran agricultural research workers promoted for seniority rather than for management training and skills. Further, there are few courses available on the management of agricultural research, and solutions and models used in the developed world may not be appropriate for developing countries.”
He added: “FAO has actively participated in strengthening the national agricultural research systems of developing countries, and has stressed the importance of effective organization and management for efficient research systems. The need for training in this area is great, and resources – particularly trained human resources – are limited. FAO has therefore developed a training programme on agricultural research management to support the training of trainers, with the expectation of a multiplier effect, and to facilitate a common perception of the structure and terminology of management, thus enhancing communication and understanding among agricultural research managers in discussing management problems, solutions and opportunities.”
India and China are two examples that vindicate Mr. Fresco as these countries in the past struggled with the production of food but today through the application of scientific research they have become exporters of food.
The commitment to the establishment of a sister school of research is the first step on this journey and one would hope this excellent initiative fructifies in the shortest possible time