Extension officers get training to better help farmers across the country

With the aim of strengthening the services offered to farmers across the county, the Ministry of Agriculture on Friday commenced its regional extension training programme.

The first session took place in the boardroom of the ministry’s Regent Street office and saw attendance from extension coordinators and officers from all ten Administrative Regions, a release from the ministry said.

Over the next few months, extension staff from across the region will attend several training exercises focused on a number of topics which include farmers’ database and record keeping, agriculture information software systems, extension methods and strategies, and planning and implementation of extension activities.

Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha expressed concern with the response of the extension arm of the ministry. He noted that urgent changes are needed to ensure effective and meaningful services were being offered to farmers.

This is vital for the successful development of the sector as Guyana has a leading role to play in the region’s food security efforts. Minister Mustapha said that it was critical for extension officers to be given up-to-date knowledge related to the sector.

“We’ve seen a lack of leadership in our extension services. This is why we are here today to have the first of many sessions so that our extension officers can benefit from the training needed.

“You will be given the requisite knowledge and be kept up-to-date on new strategies and technology in the sector. The current structure in place is not effective. The new structure will be more central. We’ve seen what happened when we had activities to distribute flood relief and the problems we encountered. If we had a comprehensive register most of those issues could’ve been avoided,” the Agriculture Minister said.

The minister also said that in achieving the vision of 25 by 2025, Guyana has to play a leading role. But most important is to respond to the needs of the farmers.

“While we are doing this, we want to increase the income of our farmers, create jobs, especially for young people, and improve the economic status of everyone in the country,” he said.

The government also aims to boost young peoples’ interest in the sector by making agriculture more attractive, modern, and less labour intensive.

Director General of the Ministry, Madanlall Ramraj noted that there was a notable gap between the research conducted and what is disseminated to farmers and that the new structure would address those shortcomings.

“It is important for the shortfalls and difficulties that have been plagued through the extension services to be addressed.

“There is a gap between our research and what is being disseminated to our farmers. For us to achieve the agricultural goal, we’ll have to address that,” Ramraj said.

He further noted that upon completion of the training exercises, a more robust data management and monitoring and evaluating system will be in place to ensure the structure being developed produces the desired results.