Extension officers to benefit from updated training at GSA in 2022

…as Agriculture Ministry aims to better serve farmers

A number of extension officers attached to the Agriculture Ministry are expected to receive training from the Guyana School of Agriculture (GSA) in 2022, as the Ministry works towards revamping the operations of its extension agencies.
Officers will receive training on how to properly carry out their functions to better cater to the needs of the nation’s farmers.
This was disclosed by Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha during a commissioning exercise at the New Guyana Marketing Corporation’s (New GMC) Central Packaging Facility at the Sophia Exhibition Centre last Wednesday.
Minister Mustapha stated that the Government has been working to improve the services being offered to farmers and agro-processors across the country. He further stated that officials from the Ministry and the Guyana School of Agriculture have been advised to develop a curriculum offering additional training to the Ministry’s extension officers.

“Our senior officers were already informed and very soon they will commence working on a curriculum to offer training to our extension officers. This programme should be ready before mid next year. Extension officers will be able to receive training through the GSA to improve the services offered to our farmers and agro-processors. This is one of the steps we are taking to revamp the sector so that quality service can be delivered. Agriculture is once again at the forefront of our economy and we have to ensure that our extension personnel are well equipped and informed on how to deliver the calibre of services that were promised to citizens during our 2020 elections campaign trail,” the Agriculture Minister said.
Since taking office, Minister Mustapha has been meeting with farmers across the country who aired concerns about the quality of services being offered by the extension arm of several agencies which form part of the Ministry. After receiving similar complaints during a number of outreaches, Minister Mustapha disclosed that the entire extension arm of the Ministry would soon be revamped. He also said that extension officers who are not willing to work to execute the mandate of the present Government will be relieved of their services.
As it relates to the courses that will be offered to the extension officers, the Minister said that the curriculum will serve as both a refresher course and teach officers about updated methods of services as Guyana moves towards more technologically advanced approaches to doing agriculture.
The courses are expected to include best practices for proper animal husbandry, artificial insemination techniques, shade house development, a “six-point” method for rice cultivation, post-harvest handling of perishable produce, and smart agriculture practices just to name a few.