Extension officers from Regions Three, Four, and Five are set to undergo a three-day training at the Guyana School of Agriculture’s Mon Repos campus. The Ministry of Agriculture, in line with its strategy for sector growth, initiated this programme.
At today’s kick-off, Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha emphasized the programme’s goal of equipping ministry extension staff to handle diverse agricultural challenges across all departments. Highlighting Guyana’s key role in CARICOM’s food security, he stressed the need for a robust agricultural sector.
Mustapha stated, “To enhance the agriculture sector, a cohesive and extensive advisory system is essential. Extension Officers should be equipped to cater to every farmer in Guyana.” He also went on to explain how strengthening Guyana’s agri-food system will aid in decreasing the region’s food import bill by 25% by 2025.
The minister also indicated the government’s commitment to resource extension officers further. “Besides training, we aim to equip you with the necessary tools for the ‘One Extension System’. We are in the process of creating a Farmers Registration System and an integrated Agriculture Information System (AIS). Additionally, officers will receive tablets to facilitate the AIS. We aim to transition to a paperless system eventually. Furthermore, demonstration plots will be established in various regions to promote sound agricultural practices,” he added.
The training will encompass modules on crop cultivation, livestock care, fisheries, fruits and vegetables handling, digital data management, extension tools, and the Farmer Field Schools concept.
Earlier this year, a similar initiative was introduced in Georgetown. The current program sees participation from various agencies under the Ministry of Agriculture, including the Guyana Livestock Development Authority, Guyana Rice Development Board, and others.
