THE Guyana School of Agriculture (GSA) has opened registration for a new practical training programme aimed at equipping local agro-processors and aspiring entrepreneurs with the technical and business skills needed to develop market-ready products and build viable agro-processing enterprises.
The short course, titled “Product Development and Agro-Processing Entrepreneurship,” will run from August 11 to August 26, 2026, at the Agro-Processing Facility located within the GSA Compound.
The two-week programme is designed to provide participants with extensive hands-on experience while limiting classroom instruction. It carries a training materials fee of $20,000.
The course will include nine days of practical training focused on product formulation and reformulation, food-processing techniques, product testing, label development, packaging selection, product costing and assessments of market readiness.
Participants will also receive three days of theoretical instruction covering product development and standardisation, good manufacturing practices (GMPs), food safety requirements, labelling compliance, brand development and packaging design.
Other areas to be addressed include shelf-life considerations, product costing and pricing, marketing fundamentals, business registration, licensing and permit requirements, as well as an introduction to barcodes and nutritional facts panels.
In addition to the training sessions, participants will receive ongoing support in areas such as nutritional facts panel preparation, barcode registration, technical assistance, business licensing guidance and packaging advice.
Graduates of the programme will also be granted six months of free access to the GSA Agro-Processing Facility, subject to the facility’s scheduling arrangements and operational policies.
The initiative is intended to support the development of value-added agricultural products while helping entrepreneurs improve product quality, strengthen branding and packaging, and better prepare their businesses for commercial markets.
With spaces limited, prospective participants are being encouraged to register early by contacting the GSA at 600-0158.
