NARI continues to promote year-round production
 
Georgetown, GINA, April 09, 2008.

Focus continues to be placed on the promotion of appropriate technology and farming practices that will allow for year-round production in keeping with Government’s ongoing efforts to further develop the agricultural sector.
            Plans are underway for hosting a national training programme for farmers and agricultural extension officers to familiarise them with year-round technology such as the tropical ‘green house’ or ‘shaded’ technology.
The training will be undertaken through the National Agricultural Research Institute (NARI) and will include establishment of ‘shade houses’ in various Regions for farmers to observe the technology and integrate it into their activities.
            The ‘green house/shaded’ technology involves the establishment of plastic tents that facilitate cultivation without being affected by adverse weather conditions.
This technology could be used to cultivate any type of crop on a year-round basis that would enable farmers to earn more and expand their activities. It could help to push the cultivation of fresh fruits and vegetables and other non-traditional crops that form part of Government’s agricultural diversification thrust.
            Under an agreement between the Governments of Guyana and China, a tropical green house farm was re-established at Land of Canaan, East Bank Demerara, and has since facilitated the cultivation of several varieties of crops that are available on the local market including radish, chili peppers, spinach and Chinese cucumber.
            Another advanced technology being promoted by Government through NARI is drip irrigation, which is the slow application of water to the soil through small openings on lines that are laid along the cultivation plot and hydroponics (the growing of plants without soil).
            Under a project being implemented by NARI, demonstration plots were set up in several areas such as Parika, St. Cuthbert’s Mission, Hopetown, Bath Settlement, Annai, St. Ignatius and Linden.
            Drip-irrigation allows the supply of enough water to meet crop demands and a supply of moisture could be maintained in crops’ root zones during the entire growing season. This reduces water contact with plant leaves, stems and fruits, making it less favourable to crop diseases.
            Hydroponics is also another technology introduced to farmers locally. This involves the use of materials other than the soil, including water added with nutrients to enable cultivation indoors. It is being used minimally in Guyana to produce vegetables for domestic consumption.

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