LAST week NAREI in Focus began a series on initiatives taken by Guyana through the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute to satisfy the requirements of “Koronivia Joint Work on Agriculture” (KJWA) within the UNFCCC framework.

An important aspect of the Socio-economic and Food Security Dimensions thematic area of the KJWA is food security. Cassava is a vital crop for food security, as well as poverty reduction through rural incomes. It is used as a famine-reserve crop, cash crop for urban consumption, industrial raw materials, and earner of foreign exchange.

Smallholder farmers in rural and hinterland areas are also losing important varieties through excessive rainfall, drought and other climate-related challenges. This situation presented a threat to farmers’ livelihoods as it created a socio-economic condition that needed urgent attention. NAREI’S research interventions identified 81 bitter and six sweet cassava accessions with favourable drought and pest and disease resistance, and growth and production characteristics. In relation to cassava productivity, three high-yielding Improved Cassava Varieties (NAREI 1, NAREI 2 and NAREI 3) with drought-resistant characteristics were released to farmers and an active programme of multiplication and distribution of cassava- planting materials to farmers instituted to respond to the increased demand for cassava-planting materials in Guyana.

A viable alternative to cassava in ensuring food security for these communities is breadfruit cultivation. Breadfruit (Artocarpus altilis) is a versatile plant that is cultivated with minimal maintenance. It produces fruit after about six years and remains productive for over 50 years. It can be eaten steamed, boiled, fried, baked, roasted or fried. The ripe breadfruit can be eaten raw or used to make a refreshing beverage and wine.

As for its nutritional content, breadfruit is gluten-free and low in saturated fat. It is considered a superfood as it is rich in fibre, carbohydrates, vitamin C, and numerous other minerals. However, breadfruit as a crop is difficult to propagate because of its seedless nature. To help alleviate this problem the institute embarked on multiplication / generation of new plants via tissue culture. In 2017, two new varieties were introduced in Guyana. Ma’afala, is a compact tree that bears small fruits weighing approximately 0.8 kg and with creamy to pale yellow flesh. Ulu fiti is a bigger tree that bears in clusters with fruits weighing approximately1.8 kg with yellow flesh.

Plants were distributed to farmers in various regions. Currently, these varieties are being propagated via tissue culture and are available for sale to farmers.
Due to the accelerating growth of global population and climate change, there is a drastic depletion of agricultural and plant-genetic resources, which continues to threaten food security nationally and universally. Research in plant biotechnology is imperative to mitigate some of the challenges faced due to climate change and global warming. The department of Plant Biotechnology and Genetic Resources was created for this purpose; to enhance crop productivity through innovative research in plant biotechnology and on plant-genetic resources.

Additionally, devise new strategies for the conservation of plant-genetic resources for food and agriculture security, facilitate the transboundary movement of clean and healthy materials and engage in breeding programmes for the creation of resilient crops.

To date, the department has successfully established depositories for different crops, both in-situ (Ebini and Kairuni) and ex-situ (plant tissue culture laboratory) highlighting cassava (Manihot esculenta) as one of the major crops with more than 80 different accessions. Over the years the department has successfully provided disease-free and resistant planting materials of high-yielding varieties of plantain, sweet potato, pineapple, cassava and breadfruit plants to farmers for cultivation.