THIS week NAREI in Focus will inform you about our highly productive Hosororo Plant Nursery, Region One. Our six staffers work assiduously to ensure the 23-acre of land dedicated to the nursery is properly utilised. Crops available at the nursery include citrus, avocado, coffee, cocoa, Carambola, nutmeg and black pepper are grown there.
One of its main crops is avocado. The production of avocado seedlings is seasonal.

Oftentimes, farmers, as well as individuals, book months in advance to ensure they access our quality planting materials. There is usually a high demand. In the coming weeks, 3,500 avocado seedlings will be ready for sale. But, don’t get excited- all have been booked. Customers travel from as far as Mahaicony and Linden to purchase our seedlings.
A large portion of land is dedicated to citrus production. There are sixteen varieties available at the nursery. Customers usually demand rough lemons, tangerine, orange and grapefruit. There are also 3,500 citrus seedlings for sale.

Of course, since Region One is the capital of Guyana, our Hosororo Nursery is home to many spices. Approximately, 18-acre of land is dedicated to spice production demonstration plots. Currently, black pepper and nutmeg seedlings are available.
Given the importance of this nursery to food security in the Region, Research Assistant Faron Pearson was recently sent on a three-week training programme in Costa Rica. Using the knowledge gained, a new handling floor was established.

According to Pearson, “When I went to Costa Rica they show us a shaded handling floor that had sand as its floor. The explanation made sense. The water used to water the floor usually lodges on the cement floor and cause fungus also workers can injure themselves. But with the compacted sand floor the water is adsorbed easily. And with proper maintenance weed wouldn’t be a problem.”

Pearson said that he plans to embark on several other projects to incorporate the lessons he learnt whilst on the training programme.