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GUYANA CHRONICLE Agriculture Supplement October 29, 2015

Celebrating Agriculture Month, 2015 (Excerpts from the Minister’s Message)

“THIS year’s celebration is being held under the theme, ‘Exploiting our strengths; advancing agriculture and social protection’, specifically chosen because Guyana will highlight the changes in the sector with a view to establishing new frontiers on which our agriculture development will be based in the coming year and beyond. “Given these facts, it is important that the we recognise the importance agriculture plays in breaking the cycle of rural poverty, both regionally and internationally. “In fact, this year’s celebration will feature several activities which will not only position

Guyana to push for more environmentally-friendly initiatives, such as our National Tree Planting activity, but also address issues within the rice industry, with the launching of a National Paddy-Bug Management Programme. “The Ministry of Agriculture takes this opportunity to encourage various sectors of society to undertake actions aimed at raising public awareness on the importance to the economy, if a green status is to be reached. “Today I emphasise our Government’s commitment to sustaining food security. One of our main priorities is to ensure that we con-

tinue to enhance food and nutrition security by ensuring that Guyana is on par with the objective of ensuing that ‘World Hunger is Eliminated’. “This year, we aim to raise the profile of family farming, and the role of small farmers and the impact they continue to have on the development of agriculture in Guyana. “Guyana stands ready to eliminate rural poverty. However, if we are to attain this status, communities need to be more self-sufficient. Farmers today must recognise the challenges facing farming and confront them, so as to significantly maximise on the benefits, and exploit the full potential of their respective communities. “It is the Ministry’s view that Guyana’s development, as it relates to agriculture, is in the future development of our hinterland. We believe that we can tap that vast potential, because if we look at our landmass in terms of fertile soil, we can exploit close to 250,000 acres without deforestation and under-cultivation in our intermediate savannahs alone, and many times that in the South West Rupununi region. “Agriculture Month 2015 will see the sector positioning itself to not only ensure National Food Security, but also to be an exporter of food to help other countries in the region and beyond.”

GUYANA CHRONICLE Agriculture Supplement October 29, 2015

Guyana’s

III

love affair

with agriculture

By Neil Primus

Dear land of Guyana, of rivers and plains Made rich by the sunshine, and lush by the rains

HESE lines from our National Anthem speak volumes of a country that is blessed with rich, fertile lands. But most of those fertile lands lie along the coast, which makes them vulnerable to flooding because of Guyana’s being below sea level. The remainder consists of sand, interior highlands, mountains and savannas. Our two main agricultural crops are sugarcane and rice. A variety of smaller crops is also cultivated. Those are ground provision, bananas, coconuts, peanuts, citrus, vegetables and turmeric. MODERN-DAY PRACTICES Many of our modern agricultural practices were started back in ancient times. All we have done is to improve them to suit our modern needs. Even our demands for food have changed. Modern Man has had to adapt in order to benefit fully from advancements in this sector. Today, agriculture remains a vital part of our economic success. The agricultural sector in Guyana has been providing a critical service to all Guyanese. October is Agriculture Month in Guyana. The ministry, through the National Agriculture Research Extension & Institute (NAREI), has, since the month began, embarked on a national tree-planting exercise. In another few days, over 150,000 trees will have been distributed all across Guyana. MONTH-LONG ACTIVITIES During this month of activities, the government’s agricultural agencies, private farmers, producers and groups are all showcasing their products and services. The Guyana Shop, managed by the Guyana Marketing Corporation, has been stocking and selling only Guyanese products. The Ministry of Agriculture, through its many and diverse departments, has been offering valuable services to farmers and others in the sector. Some of the many services that have been offered to date are: 1: Cold Storage Facilities 2: Collapsible Plastic Agricultural Crates 3: Refrigeration Trucking 4: Brokerage 5: Agri-Business Development 6: Market Extension Training 7: Agriculture Market Information System (Text 1010) 8. Research 9: Technology Transfer 10: Plant Protection These form a major part of the government’s input in agriculture, and all help to enhance production and improve the lives of Guyanese. COMMUNITY FARMING Farming takes place in many areas in Guyana. From subsistence farming in distant communities, to small kitchen gardens, farms help to feed our nation.

Even though we consume large amounts of sugar, rice, ground provision, banana, pear, coconut (water/dry), fruits and corn, we also export them, which earns valuable foreign currency, which in turn helps to develop our economy. Unfortunately, the North West District, an area famous for producing farming products of a high standard and quality, has seen a radical decrease in output. Now, instead of producing the kind of agricultural products it has been noted for over the years, it only supplies two: Ginger and Turmeric. What is worse is that it is now forced to buy agricultural products to meet its domestic needs. This fall in agricultural activities is due mainly to its residents gravitating to the ‘goldfields’ and timber grants and migration to the coastland and other urban areas. As the traditional farmers grow older, there is no one left to replace them. Even those who persist with farming do so under great duress. The cost of production is often more than the market price. Combined with freight charges to markets in Georgetown, these odds stack up against the farmer. Whenever a farmer travels to the city with produce, he has to ensure that he gets all his goods sold. If this does not happen, which is sometimes the case, he is forced to return home on the next ferry and abandon the goods. The goods often perish. Guyana’s agricultural sector extends to poultry, fish, pork, beef, mutton, goat, eggs, and wild meat.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Agriculture Supplement October 29, 2015

A change comes to Agricola The word ‘Agricola’, in Latin, the language of Ancient Rome, means ‘farmer’. Could this be how the little East Bank village of Agricola came by its name. With this thought aforemost, this being agriculture and all, NEIL PRIMUS, took to his cycle and rode all the way up there to find out.

HE small village of Agricola lies on the outskirts of the city, some three miles from Georgetown. The village was bought by slaves during the 1838-1852 period, when slaves were buying up land along the eastern bank of the Demerara River. The village is located exactly where the city begins if you are entering from the East Bank of Demerara. The name Agricola comes from Latin, meaning agriculture. This name was chosen because the slaves at that time were only involved in agriculture, and the village’s main economic activity was agriculture. The once verdant community has since evolved into one that has little to do with agriculture. Gone are the many small family-farming projects that were a feature in almost every yard. No longer is there a small street market selling primarily fruits, vegetables and ground provision produced in the village. The names of the streets in the community come straight out of the Roman Empire: Names such as Brutus, Remus, Romulus, Caesar, Cato and Titus. In 1970, Agricola became an official part of the city during the period when John Ford was mayor of Georgetown.

Home Economics and Woodworking Centre

AGRICOLA TODAY Today, there are two places of internment in the village: The Anglican and the Rome Burial Grounds are where the dead are laid to rest. Two of the oldest churches in the village are the Methodist Church and the Anglican Church. On October 25, 2015, the St Ann’s Anglican Church celebrated its 100th Anniversary. There is also a Jordanite church, and seven Protestant churches. In the centre of the community are two very important institutions. The Health Centre caters to the needs of villagers who are spared the trouble of travelling to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) to seek medical attention. The second essential institution is the Home Economics and Woodworking Centre,

which addresses the need for marketable skills among youths in the village and neighbouring communities. An artesian well supplies potable water to the community, and a Post Office and Police Outpost serves their varying needs. The most important feature of this village is its human resources. Agricola has produced many outstanding sons and daughters of the soil. Scholars, Priests, Nurses, Educators, Police Officers, Mechanics, a Dentist and many Technicians in different fields have all emerged from this small village. OVERCROWDED According to a survey done in 1955, Agricola is somewhat overcrowded. It also showed that there were seven cross-streets instead of five. The names of the other two streets are Augustine Street and Trojan Street. 4.455 acres were then bought from Plantation Houston Sugar Estate and Company Limited. The price paid was $72,275.00. According to one villager, Brutus Street was built by hand, using rocks. This project was done through the labour of slaves. He remembers the Tramcar travelling to Agricola and stopping in Brutus Street. From there, it would return to the city. A lamp post was erected at that spot that served as a village landmark for many decades. It was located in front of the Anglican School.

Post Office & Police Outpost

Bounty Farm GUYANA CHRONICLE Agriculture Supplement October 29, 2015

A household name in Guyana

By Neil Primus

GRICULTURE is one of the major economic activities carried out in Guyana. Sugar, rice, forestry, fisheries, crops such as bananas, ground provision, fruits, greens, peanuts and ginger, beef, pork, poultry and dairy products make up a large percentage of our main agricultural products. One local company has taken one of these products and made it a household name in Guyana. Bounty Farm Ltd. is reputedly Guyana’s largest supplier of chicken. It supplies most of the major Fast Food Outlets, and a number of supermarkets here. It also exports chicken to neighbouring Suriname. Of the company’s more

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Agriculture Supplement October 29, 2015

Following in grandfather’s footsteps By Rajendra Prabhulall

EBECCA Prabhulall has a great passion and love for agriculture, and has dedicated her life to helping farmers and contributing towards the agriculture development of Guyana like her grandfather, the late Prabhulall, who was a dedicated agriculture officer. From a little girl growing up, Rebecca always showed a love for agriculture. She was very close to her grandfather, and would accompany him many times to his garden to water and care for the plants. She said he even taught her how to talk to the plants. When her grandfather passed away, Rebecca’s love for agriculture grew even more. She had her mind set on following in his footsteps. EARLY START Rebecca said her grandfather started to work as a nursery attendant at the La Belle Alliance Agriculture Plant nursery

at the age of 17, but did not remain in that position. She said he was a man of determination and wanted to climb the ladder in terms of extension work and to help farmers in general with technical advice on crop cultivation. Rebecca said she wanted to do the same as her grandfather and not to just sit in an office but to be in the fields and work with farmers. She said many elderly farmers, especially those in the Pomeroon, told her how dedicated and helpful her grandfather was as an agriculture officer. According to Rebecca, farmers said her grandfather would walk for miles to get to farms and give farmers technical advice on the ground. She said farmers said they became very excited whenever Mr Prabhulall visited their farms because he was a friend of their farms. He gave advice not in office but on the farm where he demonstrated to farmers how to spray and care their plants. Rebecca said the things that her grand father did to help farmers motivated her and she in turn wanted to help farmers too.

SCHOOLING Rebecca, who attended the Hampton Court Nursery and Primary Schools before completing her secondary education at the Anna Regina Multilateral School wrote the CXC examinations and obtained passes in nine subjects with top grades. She decided to pursue agriculture like her grandfather and so entered the Guyana School of Agriculture at Anna Regina where she studied for two years and graduated. Rebecca did not want to stop there and so entered the University of Guyana to study for her degree in agriculture She said that with lots of sacrifices and determination she successfully completed her degree programme and will graduate in November. The young woman who is a proud daughter of Guyana said she was waiting to get a good job with the Ministry of Agriculture and working in the fields like her grandfather to help farmers improve production and the quality of crops.

Rebecca Prabhulall

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Agriculture Supplement October 29, 2015

Bittersweet memories of a once prosperous industry Engineer Malcolm Henry running through some of the documents still has in his possession from the first day on the job at GuySuCo

- talking sugar with Ret’d Factory Manager, Malcolm Henry

By Rabindra Rooplall

economic and social life undisputed.

reflected.

OT only is the sugarcane a plant that grows at a faster rate than other commercial crops, and can be cultivated with sustainable techniques, but its structural and chemical composition makes it particularly appealing for transformation into valuable products through industrial processing. Take it from Malcolm Henry, a man who started his career in the sugar industry at the tender age of 18, and retired as Factory Manager of the Albion Estate in 2008. Now living in Jamaica, where his skills as an engineer has earned him a senior position at the prestigious Appleton Estate, Henry, who came home for a few days earlier in the month, agreed to sit down and roll back the years on sugar with the Guyana Chronicle.

MULTIFUNCTIONAL To understand the important role GuySuCo plays within Guyana, Mr Henry said, a look must first be taken at the multifunctional aspects of the sugar industry and its impact on all sectors of the country must be understood. Focusing on the benefits of the industry, Mr Henry said that, through sales and production, a vast and varied wave of sugar income is distributed among the people of Guyana. Its presence is tangible as it channels through GuySuCo’s workforce and then slowly permeates into the sectors that rely on sugar as their staple source of income. As the largest single employer in Guyana, with a labour force of over ten thousand people, GuySuCo’s employment cost for 2000 amounted to US$63.5 million. This income, Henry said, is multiplied towards other leading industries that depend on sugar-related activities for their business, such as the shipping, retail/supermarket chains, and the agricultural equipment suppliers; thus creating additional job opportunities and upward mobility for Guyana’s labour force. He explained that GuySuCo’s goodwill is far reaching, and can be seen in the development of the skills of its labour force and in the provision of opportunities for educational, recreational, and sports activities for both the sugar industry and the country as a whole.

DIVERSIFICATION Sugar has been the principal and virtually only commercial product obtained from cane. Probably the only exception, and then only fairly recently, is the Brazilian alcohol fuel programme. The objective is both to take advantage of cane for purposes other than the production of sugar -- such as use of the by-products of the sugar industry -- and sugar itself as raw material to obtain products with a high aggregate value and of interest to the market. Henry related that this is what the so-called diversification consists of. The concept of diversification and its economic and strategic importance for cane-producing countries has been the focus of attention at several international fora in the past few years. A study of the alternatives for diversification of sugar cane calls for an analysis of the different factions that make up its vegetative structure.

DOWNHILL For starters, he declared quite bluntly that this once successful industry went downhill after the death of the late President Cheddi Jagan. But before going into the pros and cons of the industry, the father of three noted that the sugar industry should not be politicized, and should actually be privatized to excel. He said that when the previous administration forced Bookers and Tate & Lyle out of managing the industry, it became even worse, because square pegs were placed in round holes, and mismanagement, combined with ad hoc political directives, caused the industry to under-perform. If sugar is to be produced with maximum efficiency, the engineer said, there is need to look at the overall picture; the entire process chain, from the incoming raw materials to the outgoing goods; because the more integrated is the workflow, the greater is the competitive edge. He said there needs to be totally integrated automation and proper control systems that perfectly combine all stages of the process, thereby ensuring productivity along the entire line. HISTORY The Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) was formed in 1976 when the Government nationalized the industry and merged the sugar estates operated by Booker Sugar Estates, Tate and Lyle and Jessels Holdings. For the first time in its history, Henry said, the people of Guyana were in charge of their industry, and the industry moved forward under its new management with constant changes. The Guyana Sugar Corporation contributes so significantly to the country’s economy and society that national economic fortunes are inextricably linked with that of the sugar industry. In year 2000, GuySuCo’s net foreign exchange earnings reached US$88 million, making the impact of the sugar industry undeniable and its influence on

MECHANIZATION At the beginning of the new century, Henry reflected, in the face of a dwindling labour force and high cost of production, efforts to modernize the industry took root, and persons with his engineering skills were in demand. Mr Henry applied in 1974, and began working in GuySuCo as a trainee. He said semi-mechanisation commenced as lands were gradually being configured to accommodate machines, as in the case of some of the estates where cane loaders are utilized to fill the punts with freshly cut cane. There is also now a gradual increase in the use of mechanical harvesters to harvest the canes. Such machines, he said, significantly increase production output and reduce the cost of production. Mr. Henry said the Skeldon Sugar Factory is the industry’s best example of its move towards modernization. One of the largest sugar factories, it is the most technologically advanced and is capable of producing over 100,000 tonnes of sugar annually. “It also uses bagasse -- a by-product of crushed cane -- to produce electricity, some of which is passed on to the national grid for consumers in Berbice. The Corporation’s future is focused on the production of over 450,000 tonnes of sugar annually. Of this amount, 80,000 tonnes will be direct consumption packaged sugars. Project Gold (the Enmore Packaging Plant) was expected to launch a range of value-added cane sugar products, including branded and private labelled packaged sugars, to the Caribbean and the rest of the world,” Malcolm Henry

DEVELOPMENT The former Enmore Factor Manager lamented that GuySuCo, for over a decade, has not been attending international conferences to keep abreast with the marketing strategy and development aspects of the industry. “Since 1996, Guyana has not kept a sugar conference in this country. Can you imagine?” Mr Henry questioned. “And we have the leading agriculture people, we have people that left Guyana and are teachers at universities in the US and the Caribbean, who teach on sugar technologies. It was once a plan to open a branch of the Guyana University for sugar engineers, technologists and agriculture specialists,” he disclosed. Adding that many persons enhanced their qualifications through international courses and universities while in the employ of GuySuCo, Mr Henry said that while Jamaica is hosting its sugar conference annually, where specialists meet, Guyana is losing all its qualified experts in the field because of mismanagement. “The last sugar conference in Brazil also had no Guyanese. Can you believe this? And Guyana wants to save and develop its sugar industry,” the sugar engineer lamented. “Every year we use to send people to Nicholas State University in Louisiana, USA, to do the refinery course and the sugar course. I think the last batch may have gone in 2008, because every year I finding out since I left this country, and I haven’t learnt of anybody attending from Guyana,” he disclosed. Underscoring that many persons were also awarded scholarships to England and Australia, the engineer said these studies were done to invest in chemists to further boost GuySuCo, but “the industry was falling apart and many did not want to be a part of a failure, with decisions being made by people who

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Agriculture Supplement October 29, 2015

A few tricks of the trade - for a healthy vegetable garden

1: Keep garden vegetables from getting dirty by spreading a one to two-inch layer of mulch (untreated by pesticides or fertilizers) around each plant. This will also help keep the weeds down. 2: Paint the handles of your garden tools a bright colour other than green to help you find them amongst your plants. You can also keep a mailbox in your garden for easy tool storage. 3: Compost needs time to integrate and stabilise in the soil. Apply two to three weeks prior to planting. 4: There is an easy way to mix compost into your soil without a lot of back-breaking work: Spread the compost over your garden after all the harvesting is done. Cover with mulch such as hay or chopped leaves and let nature take its course. 5: Like vining vegetables, but don’t have the room? Train your melons, squash, and cucumbers onto a vertical trellis or fence. Saves space and looks pretty too! 6: Garden vegetables that become over-ripe are an easy target for some pests. Remove them as soon as possible to avoid detection. 7: Over-watering is worse than under-watering. It is easier to revive a dry plant than try to dry out drowned roots. 8: When planting a flower or vegetable transplant, deposit a handful of compost into each hole. Compost will provide transplants with an extra boost that lasts throughout the growing season. 9: Insects can’t stand plants such as garlic, onions, chives and chrysanthemums. Grow these plants around the garden to help repel insects. 10: Plants will do best if they are well suited to your growing area. Take some time to read up and choose plants accordingly. 11: For easy peas, start them indoors. The germination rate is far better, and the seedlings will be healthier and better able to fight off pests and disease. 12: If you’re short on space, garlic, leeks and eschallot make excellent container plants. They tend to have few insect or disease problems, and don’t require much room for roots. 13:. Another reason to use natural and organic fertilisers and soil amendments: Earthworms love them! Earthworms are extremely beneficial in the vegetable garden, increasing air space in the soil and leaving behind worm castings. Do what you can to encourage earthworms in your soil. 14: Water your garden in the early morning to conserve moisture loss, and to help avoid powdery mildew and other fungal diseases that are often spread by high humidity levels. 15: When transplanting tomatoes, cover the stem with soil all the way up to the first set of leaves. This greatly encourages root growth, making for a stronger, healthier plant. 16: Healthy soil means a thriving population of microbes, earthworms and other organisms. A soil that has “good tilth” will produce robust garden plants that are better able to resist pests and disease. 17: A simple f5% increase in organic material (compost) quadruples the soil’s ability to store water. Well, there you have it!

Bounty Farm X

GUYANA CHRONICLE Agriculture Supplement October 29, 2015

◄ From page V

than 18 products, its main ones are Baby Chicks and Poultry Feed. LOCATION This farm sits on 60 acres of rich soil at Timehri, on the East Bank Demerara. Here, a fully integrated poultry farming operation takes place; it comprises, inter alia, a Hatchery, Feed Mill, Processing Plant, Stores, Poultry Unit, Workshop, and a free daycare facility for employees’ children. Bounty Farm boasts four supermarkets; their locations are on Water and Regent Streets, in Kitty, and at Grove, on the East Bank Demerara. Bounty has a staff of 700, with the

Timehri facility alone accounting for 460. Of this number, 200 work in the processing plant. Bounty’s current production rate stands at 3200 birds per hour, which equates to an astonishing 130,000 – 150,000 birds being processed every week. In 2014, production exceeded 5.8 million birds. And Bounty is still developing and evolving. Sometime in the near future, Guyanese can expect the next step in the company’s evolution to be: Further processing, which will see products like Pre-Seasoned Chicken, Pre-Cooked Chicken, Chicken Nuggets and Burgers being introduced on the market. Since 1994, Bounty has worked with private farmers in

Contract Rearing. Each farmer is provided with Baby Chicks and Feed. Their operation is then monitored and the birds are taken back at a given age and size. The farmer is paid a fee under this unique arrangement. This ensures the production of one standard age group of chicken being supplied to the company. GENESIS Bounty Farm originated from a very innocent project. Company patriarch, John Fernandes decided to start a ‘hobby farm’ on a plot of land situated on the eastern bank of the Demerara River in 1958. This small venture grew from strength to strength over the years. Ten years later, Bounty Farm was born. Back then, its main thrust was the production of crops like citrus, vegetables and ground provision. Poultry was only introduced in 1965 by Mr. Billy Fernandes. Back then, Bounty concentrated primarily on ‘Broiler’ production. Then in 1990, management took a decision to begin importing and custom hatching their own eggs. They also started producing their own feed, and opened the Bounty Meat Centre in Georgetown. This gave the company control over all of the inputs needed for production. The farm was then producing approximately 1000 birds per week, with a small staff of 35 full-time employees. In 1991, Assistant Managing Director, David Fernandes began his employment at the company as a rookie, fresh out of college. He disclosed that it was a privilege and honour working with the company and gaining the confidence of the past directors. This allowed him to spread his wings and helped develop himself and the company. The Bounty processing facility is one of the most impressive features at this location; it is operated under very safe and strict hygienic conditions. The 20-ton-per-hour Feed Mill is another valuable asset that the company has. With a Blast Freezing Unit capable of freezing the entire day’s production in eight hours, and a large generator that ensures that power outages do not negatively affect production, the farm continues to thrive. MARKET LEADER Bounty Farm Limited has ascended to the enviable position of market-leader in Guyana’s poultry industry. According to David Fernandes, “Our goal is to provide the Guyanese population with the best poultry products that we can provide. “Over time, we realised that we could also provide them with a unique shopping experience. We have played our part in helping to develop the supermarket sector in Guyana.” Bounty Farm’s Mission Statement speaks volumes about the commitment and professionalism of this rapidly growing entity: ‘To provide Products and Services of Superior Quality to our customers through a Team of Trained, Motivated and Dedicated Staff, whose Welfare and that of our Community is our Priority’. BOUNTY IS MOVING TO THE NEXT LEVEL: PERFECTION!

Fishing

GUYANA CHRONICLE Agriculture Supplement October 29, 2015

An industry set to take off

By Neil Primus

OU can fry it, curry it, steam it or stew it. Whichever method you employ, you are sure to enjoy the cleanest, very delicious and nutritious source of protein found on the Earth: Fish. In Guyana, we consume dozens of different fish species: Hassa, Banga, Snook, Red and Gray Snapper, Gillbacker and many, many more. We even eat Piranha, known locally as Pirai. And that’s a very, very sweet fish! Fish is a very important part of Guyana’s animal protein consumption. Our fisheries sector consists of the following:1:Marine Fishing 2: Inland Fishing, and 3. Aquaculture Although we have no deep-sea fishing operation, our small vessels fish in the waters of our continental shelf, catching an assortment of fish. The Industrial Trawlers (70’ - 75’ in length) concentrate mainly on Seabob and Prawns. The semi- industrial boats (60’ - 65’ long) and the artisanal (wooden) vessels catch an assortment of species: Banga Mary, Butter Fish, Trout, Snook, Basher, Snapper and Gillbacker. Then there are the tiny vessels (18’ - 42’ long) which collect anything that they net. THE CARIBBEAN EXPERIENCE According to a report by Milton O. Haughton, titled “Fisheries Subsidy and the Role of Regional Fisheries Management Organizations: The Caribbean Experience’, the region is highly dependent on fish for economic development. This resource contributes to food security, poverty alleviation, employment, foreign exchange earnings, and the development and stability of rural and coastal communities. Approximately 182,000 people benefit from this sector. These include the least edu-

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Bittersweet memories ...

◄ From page VIII

had no idea of the sugar industry.” CONCLUSION The engineer recommends that focus should be paid on the agriculture department of GuySuCo, since “a factory can turn around in a year. Many may want to dispute, but a factory can make a turnaround in one year! Guyana’s problem is with agriculture; and looking back how we do our husbandry, how we recycling our cane farm lands, there are ways to put back nutrients in the land for replanting of sugarcane. We are supposed to be seeing the minimum 75 tonnes per hectare,” he contended. He said what is being passed off as sugar in Guyana is disgraceful. When you reach for the sugar bowl, you are reaching for sucrose. And whether you know it or not, you’re opting for one of the purest foods found on the kitchen pantry shelf and in prepared food products. “This needs to have balanced grains. The other day I was using some local sugar, and I wanted to just throw it away. It was terrible, and people buy these things. For many people, the term ‘refined’ has lost its original meaning to ‘purify’, and now carries a negative connotation. With sugar, the refining process simply removes all impurities and the surrounding plant matter, leaving only the pure sucrose,” Mr Henry explained. Mr Henry highlighted that sugar production and refining involves the continual transfer of heat to and from the different juice flows, right from the first juice to the final molasses. Recovering more heat from the processes can help the producer use less energy and cut production costs, he contends. The engineer stressed that samples of the sugar are examined from start to finish. Rigid standards are maintained by testing at each stage of the manufacturing process. Testing begins when the raw sugar from cane arrives at the refineries or processing plants. The initial tests are for purity and sucrose content; then a battery of tests is continually run to ensure proper pH balance, temperature, colour and consistency, as the sugar solution makes its way through the facility. Equipment and filtering materials are also monitored around the clock to ensure that they are working efficiently. Because it’s 99.9% pure sucrose, refined sugar is one of the highest quality products found in any grocery store. However, that’s not what is found in all grocery stores locally, the engineer lamented.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Agriculture Supplement October 29, 2015

Meet Ida Sealy-Adams - GMC General Manager (Ag)

S. Ida Sealey-Adams is currently the General Manager (ag) of the Guyana Marketing Corporation. Prior to her appointment as Acting GM, Ida Sealy-Adams she was the Agriculture Business Development Officer, a position she’s occupied since June 1, 2011. Her job primarily is to provide agro-processors with technical advice on how to development their business. But she also assists prospective agro-processors with making their business ideas a reality. And while she feels priviledged to have been given the opportunity to work with a great team on realising the objectives of the Corporation, she’s also aware of the critical role marketing plays in truly realising the vision of an agricultural sector. With her at the helm, GMC says, it will continue to build on the services that are currently being offered to their stakeholders, namely farmers, agro-processors, exporters and other market intermediaries. “We will continue to consistently build effective and responsive partnerships with players along the value and supply chain of the non-traditional agricultural commodities,” the Company says, adding: “Plans are in place to extend our service to all of the regions.” The theme for Agriculture Month 2015, ‘Exploiting our strengths; advancing agriculture and social protection’, GMC says, “will continue to resonate in the mind of the General Manager (ag) beyond the month of Agriculture, since increased marketing of agricultural commodities can play a fundamental role in improving the livelihood of those individuals who depend on Agriculture.”

GUYANA CHRONICLE Agriculture Supplement October 29, 2015

The Guyana Shop and its outlets

HE Guyana Shop is a retail outlet that was re-commissioned to the public on October 18, 2012 through its parent company, the Guyana Marketing Corporation (GMC), which is commonly considered the “marketing arm” of the Ministry of Agriculture. The Guyana Shop was mandated to promote the sale, and build awareness of the vastly growing variety of non-traditional, locally manufactured products through promotions and trade fairs. Its function also includes the creation of linkages between exporters and the local agro-processors and supporting the development of micro and small agri-businesses. The Ministry of Agriculture, through the GMC, continues to add impetus to the growth and development of diversified agriculture production. To this effect, focus has been firmly placed on improving Guyana’s agro-processing industry, a pertinent industry with serious potential of contributing significantly to Guyana’s economy. As such, a committed effort to further develop the local agro-processing industry placed a new mandate to expand The Guyana Shop nationally, regionally and internationally. On May 31, 2014 the GMC, through The Guyana Shop, made significant strides in this regard, with the commissioning of the first Guyana Shop corner located at Spready’s Supermarket in Port Morant, Berbice. This historic event allowed Guyanese from the Ancient County to have an idea of the variety of products made in Guyana. Also, in celebrating its 2nd anniversary since its re-opening, a second Guyana Shop corner was commissioned at G&P Jaigobin and Son Supermarket, located in

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The commissioning of Guyana Shop’s first outlet

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Agriculture Supplement October 29, 2015

Drones By Clifford Stanley

NMANNED Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), more popularly known as drones, have long been associated with military operations. UAVs can stay aloft for hours, and have been used extensively by the military in Iraq and Afghanistan to track Taliban fighters, and plan combat operations. These flying robots, however, have in recent months been increasingly put to use for more peaceful purposes, like helping transform large-scale agriculture. Like a bird in flight, wings spread out to catch the wind, the drone glides effortlessly over expansive farm fields, harvesting gigabytes of data, while following a pre-planned flight path. Does the crop need fertiliser? Is it getting enough water? Are

there signs of insect infestation? Is it time for pesticides and weed killers? DATA COLLECTION In a single day, information can be collected by sensors, interpreted by computer programming, then provided to the grower through photos and colour-keyed maps of the land. That data could be pictures, 3-D images of plants, thermal readings of crops or animals, or other observations that a drone could make while in the air. Information that in the past took days to collect (or could not have been collected at all) now can be gathered in mere minutes or hours, and guide the largescale farmer in making precision responses. “Last year, users had to land their aircraft and then take the data to the computer,” one user

Unmanned drone spraying a crop

observed. “Now, the data appears on your iPad or handheld device a few minutes after flight.” In one case, drone information helped a farmer avoid sacrificing his entire crop after a hailstorm. He’d assumed that the whole field would have to be written off, but the drone found that hail had really only damaged a section of the field, and the rest could keep growing. WIDESPREAD USE Drones equipped for agricultural purposes are in widespread use in Canada, Europe, Asia, The United States and South America. Within a few years, largescale farmers here in Guyana, perhaps in rice, bananas and plantains cultivation, may be able to access this technology, which can dramatically cut waste in agricultural production, increase production and productivity, and reduce costs of commercial farming enterprises. The idea of the use of drones was introduced to Guyanese farmers by Dr Keith Power, the main resource person at a recent two-week programme on “Integrated Disease Management of Black Sigatoka Disease (BSD)” by the Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI), in collaboration with the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB). BSD is a fungal-borne disease which is a main constraint to banana and plantain production. Approximately 97% of all banana

All the rage these days in agricultural development

and plantain varieties grown in the Caribbean are susceptible to BSD. Drones are helping farmers save money and conserve water and resources in a new way: By flying over farmers’ fields, they measure crop density, growth, and many other factors. WHY DRONES WORK It works because drones are able to see things that are not as obvious from the traditional lineof-sight on the ground. They have, for example, the ability to image, recreate, and analyse individual leaves on a soybean plant from 400 feet, to getting information on the water-holding capacity of soil, to variable-rate water applications and have generally convinced the agri-

Most popular unmanned drone for disease scouting cannot be seen by the human eye. Drones can detect which plants are sick, and which ones are healthy. Healthy plants reflect more infrared radiation, as opposed to plants which have fungal infections. They remove much of the human error aspect of traditional scouting, though physically inspecting areas of concern after viewing the imagery is still recommended.

Drones for disease scouting

culture industries that they can deliver good returns on investments. Dr Power said that the technology is useful in plant pathology because it saves a lot of money. ”In the US,” he said. “a farmer takes out his drone and he sends it in the air to scout a field; the drone comes back and he gets this information. It sees the change in colour, which indicates a problem; the drone sees exactly where the problem is. But if the farmer goes into the fields, he will not see it with the naked eye; he will see it in a later stage, and by then it may be too late to avert losses.” Using as an example, farmers spraying pesticides uniformly over their crop to protect them from fungal infections, Power said: “It is not environmentally great or financially great.” According to him, the use of drones can mitigate some of these drawbacks. For example, farmers can choose to not spray pesticides, based on an aerial survey of their crop, using drones. Alternatively, they can selectively spray pesticides only on plants that need attention, thus minimising environmental damage, and saving money.

Managing multiple irrigation pivots/status is a pain, especially for large growers that have many fields spread out across a county or region. Once crops like corn begin reaching certain heights, mid-season inspection of the nozzles and sprinklers on irrigation equipment that deliver much-needed water really becomes a pain in the youknow-what. Drones relieve that pain. Using NDVI sensor data and post-flight image processing to create a weed map, growers and their agronomists can easily differentiate areas of high-intensity weed proliferation from the healthy crops growing right alongside them. Historically, many growers hadn’t realised how pronounced their weed

application (VRA) maps to determine the strength of nutrient uptake within a single field, the farmer can apply 60 pounds of fertiliser to the struggling areas; 50 pounds to the medium areas; and 40 pounds to the healthy areas, thereby decreasing fertiliser costs and boosting yields. Agribotix was working with Munson Farms, a 4,000-acre corn farm in Missouri. By gathering the data from the drones, farmers were able to determine what parts of the field needed fertiliser and which didn’t. Simply looking from the side, the farmers couldn’t tell everything about growth. But after Agribotix developed a Management Zone map, based on near-infrared imagery, they could see where the plants were chesthigh, and which were waist-high. For a farm that usually uses 50 tons of fertiliser per acre, they cut it down by 40 per cent. Drones are a solid option for monitoring livestock and small ruminant herds from overhead; and tracking the quantity and activity level of animals on one’s property. And they are especially helpful for night-time monitoring, due to the human eye’s inability, thus far, to evolve to the point of seeing in the dark. Drone information can also be used to determine the precise amount of chemical needed for spraying insects and weeds. “The end result is less waste, a better yield, for wheat, corn, barley, and soybeans; and more yield is more money,” one user said. Drones, which will likely get their widest initial use in farming, have been approved for operation by certified pilots under 200 feet, and can’t be used over populated areas. Dr Power said that the business of agricultural drones in

FIVE IMPORTANT ROLES The Online publication, dronelife.com has identified five important roles that Results of disease scouting indicate problem areas in drones carry out/can carry out, a crop (Photos courtesy Dr Robert Power) namely: Mid-season crop health monitoring (aka scouting); irrigation equipment monitoring Guyana may explore large-scale and status; mid-field weed identifi- problem was until harvesttime. agriculture such as rice farming by cation; rate fertility; and cattle herd APPLICATION OF farmers over hundreds of acres of monitoring. FERTILIZERS lands, or block farming. The ability to inspect in-progAlthough many will argue that “Farmers,” he said, “may ress crops from on high with Normalized Difference Vegetative ground-based or satellite imagery, hire services that have unmanned Index (NDVI) or near-infrared along with a dedicated grid-soil aerial vehicles, as they do with (NIR) sensors is, thus far, the sampling programme, are more crop dusters or every large comNumber One use for drones in practical for the purpose of refining mercial farm may get its own Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potas- drone. Most likely, it will be a farming. This was a task that was sium applications in agriculture, combination.” He noted that farmers, as traditionally done in the US, drones do have their fit. Agribotix, a Boulder, CO- a group, tend to be very conoften by reluctant college interns walking fields with notepad in based agricultural drone service servative, but urged that they hand; but now, drones allow for startup has used NDVI maps to di- should seek to keep up with the coverage of more acres, as rect in-season fertiliser applications advances in technology which well as the capturing of data that on corn and other crops. By using enhance their farming and not drone-generated, variable-rate be left behind.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Agriculture Supplement October 29, 2015

The Guyana Shop ...

â—„ From page XIII

Agro-processors event held at the Guyana Shop

Anna Regina, on the Essequibo Coast, on October 18, 2014. GMC has also been working with other supermarkets to assist in promoting the local industry. Presently, proprietors for supermarkets in Linden, Parika and Bartica have indicated their willingness to be a part of the national drive of promoting locally-manufactured products. Also, discussions have already been held with the management of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), and permission has been granted to have a Duty Free Shop at the airport. The exciting new prospect of having The Guyana Shop countrywide is a formidable avenue of awareness to all Guyanese, highlighting the potential of the local agro- processing industry. The Guyana Shop offers consumers over 700 varied and diverse products. The products currently available include food condiments, spices and colourings, soaps, wines and beverages as well as medicinal, that are supplied by more than 45 local agro-Processors. The Guyana Shop also hosts events that coincide with national and religious holidays, and

invite agro-processors to participate, showcasing and selling their products. Conveniently located in the Capital City at the corners of Alexander and Robb Streets, Lacytown, The Guyana Shop offer its customers a unique shopping experience, while demonstrating an effort to not only provide food security for the country, but also ensuring that local farmers and producers make available products of the highest quality for local consumption and exportation at unbeatable prices. Whilst encouraging the growth of the agro-processing industry, The Guyana Shop also relies on consumers to use the local products. At The Guyana Shop, there is a unique opportunity for consumers to have readily available nutritious, high-quality value-added agro-processed foods, condiments and snacks that are certified by The Food and Drug Department. A visit to The Guyana Shop or any of its outlets will truly be a worthwhile experience.

Fishing XVI

GUYANA CHRONICLE Agriculture Supplement October 29, 2015

◄ From page XI

cated, women, and the poor living in rural communities. Statistics indicate that the yearly production of fish in CARICOM has been on the increase since the 1950s. In 2008, production stood at 134,138.3 tonnes. Of this amount, Guyana, Suriname, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago accounted for 83.3%, with Guyana’s individual contribution being 40.7%.

METHOD OF CAPTURE The methods used to capture fish in Guyana are Trawl Net, Chinese Seine or Fyke Seine, Pin Seine, Gillnet and Drift Seine, Traps, Caddle and Hand Lines. All of the above contribute to a lucrative local fish industry. Guyana produces an average of 40-42 tonnes of fish annually. Of this amount, about 19 tonnes are exported at a value of over G$11B; yet, we still import 763 tonnes of seafood at a cost of around G$392M. There are only 35 registered exporters: Nine industrial and 26 individual. This industry has enormous potential for growth and investment. With duty-free concession on equipment used by fishers and aqaculture farmers, more capital will soon be ploughed into this sector. AQUACULTURE Aquaculture (fish farming) is a fast growing industry in Guyana, and will be well positioned to benefit from the projected global demand for fish. According to a Fish to 2020 Prospect for Fisheries and Aquaculture, a joint report put out by the World Bank, the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation and the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), aquaculture will produce and supply two-thirds of the fish consumed globally by 2030. The increasing demand for fish is due to a vastly expanding market in Asia led by China. By 2030, Asia is projected to consume 70% of the fish caught globally. Heavy demand on fish farming will see increased supply of fish like Tilapia, Carp and Catfish. Tilapia is set to double in production from 4.3 million tonnes to 7.3 million tonnes. More than twothirds of the exports of developing countries are targeted to developed countries. A number of different fish species are farmed in Guyana. Some of the more popular ones used in our Fresh Water Aquaculture Industry are Tilapia, Tambaqui (a fresh-water type of Pacu), and the Brackish-Water Shrimp among other species. It ios said that though the sector is open to development and investment, care must be taken to ensure that our resources are managed through sustainable fishing practices.

CONSUMPTION Guyana has the highest consumption rate of fish per capita in CARICOM. Whenever there is a drop in the capture of fish, the price is affected negatively. Less fish for sale result in higher prices. This also has a big impact on the poultry, pig and fish producers who depend on fish for feed ingredient. According to a World Animal Protein Production Survey, pork production ranks the highest, followed by Wild Fish and Poultry, Eggs, Beef, Farmed Fish and Mutton. For many Guyanese, Hassa Curry, Fried Shark or Stewed Patwa or Huri are local delicacies. But there is a new kid on the block: A fish that is growing in popularity. Weighing in at about 12-15 pounds is the sweet, meaty Tambaki. It is a Sweet-Water Pacu, and is loved by fish consumers. Guyana’s waters are a fish haven. Over 800 species have been recorded here. And we have a few other records to boast about. Enter the Lau-Lau, the largest un-scaled (skin) fresh- water fish in the world. And the best is always left for last. Introducing our gigantic fresh-waterfish: The legendary Arapaima, reputedly the world’s largest fresh-water ‘scale-fish’. Worthy of Honourable Mention also are a few other species, such as the Lukanani, Peacock Bass, Vampire Devil Fish, Arowana, Hiamara, Banana Fish, Cuffum, Surubim, and the feisty Tiger Fish.