Major General (Ret’d) Joe Singh to Chair the NAREI Board
– New board to develop progs. to lead Govt. policies on the development of coconuts, bioethical, mangroves, etc.
Major General (Ret’d), Joe Singh.
Kaieteur News – Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha on Tuesday officially established the members of the Board of Directors of the National Agriculture Research and Extension Foundation (NAREI). The board is chaired by Major General (Ret’d), Joe Singh.
The new board members, according to a statement issued Tuesday, will serve in this capacity for one year. They were encouraged to work together to lay the foundation for taking the agency to the next level.
Commenting, Minister Mustapha said that the Board is expected to develop programs that are in line with Government policies, as outlined in its 2020-2025 manifesto.
“Some of those policies are to create a complementary environment for the development of other crops, promoting the diversification of agriculture with a focus on coconuts and horticulture. NAREI is also tasked with promoting the agri-energy industry; bioethical production through palm oil, cassava and corn. I recently had a discussion with the Chairman about palm oil in Region One and have asked him to prepare a program for the Ministry so that we can see the kind of funding needed for that, ”said Minister Mustapha.
The Board was also tasked with developing guidelines to expand imported substitute crops, as well as soybeans, corn and other crops in the Savannahs Hinterland. The subject Minister stated that, in last year’s emergency budget, incentives were given in the soybean and corn industry and that the Board should work to promote the growth of both these crops.
In addition, Minister Mustapha urged the Board to pay particular attention to developing strategies to boost Guyana’s coconut industry.
“You know for a fact that our coconut industry is about to start and we’ve been putting a lot of emphasis on its success and development. We have had a budget allocation last year to develop two new coconut nurseries and this year we are proposing seven additional nurseries for other areas across the country. We are optimistic that those projects will be approved by the Ministry of Finance so that we can start building these nurseries. The coconut industry, to me, is probably the third most important crop in our country and has the potential to be a very big foreign exchange winner for Guyana. We have also made great progress in joining the International Coconut Community (ICC), ”said Minister Mustapha.
Mr Singh, Chairman of the Board, in commenting said that the Board will work together to address the areas identified by Minister Mustapha.
“The Minister has given us a very comprehensive outline of his and the Cabinet’s expectations of the Board and a direction on what are considered priorities as it relates to the NAREI mandate. Not only do we expect to be sitting in a boardroom, but we will also be visiting other areas around the country. In this way we will be able to see the results of NAREI research as well as interact with farmers. I would like us to think, from a national perspective, how what we do as a Board not only supports, tasks and monitors what NAREI does but what we can bring to the Board. I don’t expect people to just be rubber stamps, ”said Mr Singh.
The Chair further stated that there are a number of outstanding issues that the Board will deal with during its statutory meetings.
The Board was also tasked with leading NAREI on ways to expand training and its extension service capabilities. Minister Mustapha stressed the importance of NAREI extension officers being more responsive to farmers’ needs. He further added that one of the major challenges in research in Guyana is getting the technology to farmers.
“Our outreach officers need to become more involved with farmer groups to assist with the establishment of demonstration plots and give greater emphasis to the dissemination of agricultural technology to these groups. There is also a need for some work aimed at protecting plants. During the Minister’s visit to Suriname last year, I had discussions with Surinamese authorities and we will have corporate areas where NAREI will have to play a very important role. I know we have made some progress in this regard with diseases detected in Suriname and Brazil and I think at Board level, these issues have to be looked at very closely, ”he said Minister Mustapha.
The Board was also asked to pay close attention to the development and implementation of the mangrove development plan for 2021-2025. Minister Mustapha urged the new Board to develop a program to guide the government’s five-year strategic plan for strengthening Guyana’s sea defenses by integrating mangroves, including carrying out mangrove replanting exercises in vulnerable areas across the Coast.
Apart from Singh, the new members of the NAREI Board of Directors include: Dr. Dindyal Permaul, Anjanie Narine, Andrew Forsythe, Natasha Beerjit-Deonarine, Bibi Shadick, Jainarine Narine, Suresh Amichand, Pooran Seeraj, Ricky Roopchand, Christopher Vandeyar, Dr. Garvin Cummings, Porandatt Narine, Raymond Ramsaroop and Dr. Oudho Homenauth (ex officio).