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Research Programmes

|Agronomy| |Biotechnology, Plant Genetic Resources and Crop Protection|
 |Horticulture| | |Livestock and Pasture Production| |Office of the Director| 
|Post Harvest and Agroprocessing| |Soils and Water Management|

The following is a list of NARI's Research Sections and their Research Programmes.

Roots, Tubers and Other Food Crops
The objective of the Root, Tuber and Other Food Crops Programme is to increase crop production and productivity by addressing:

	Genetic Improvement
	Crop Management
	Management of Pests and Diseases
	Improvement of Post Harvest handling
	Seed Production

Vegetable and Seed Production
This programme entailes improving the productivity, promoting and enhancing the quality of vegetables as well as promoting sustainable systems of seed production to ensure that quality seed of locally adaptive varieties reach farmers.

The main objectives of the programme are:

	Evaluate local and introduced varieties of selected vegetable crops.
	Promote sustainable systems of seed production to ensure quality seed of locally adapted varieties reach the farmers.
	Develop appropriate husbandry and post-harvest practices for crop production.
	Ensure the transfer of developed technologies to end users.

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Entomology
The objective of the Entomology Department is to diagnose and advise on insect problems affecting crops in all Administrative Regions of Guyana.

Plant Genetic Resources
The main objectives of the Biotechnology, Plant Genetic Resources and Crop Protection Programme are to:

	Acquire, characterize, evaluate, conserve, document and make available genetic diversity of selected agricultural crop species both in-situ and ex-situ.
	Survey of the main pests and diseases affecting local crops.
	Develop systems for the management of major pests, diseases and weeds affecting agricultural production.

Plant Pathology
The objective of the Plant Pathology Department is to diagnose and advise on disease problems affecting crops in all Administrative Regions of Guyana.

Tissue Culture
The Tissue Culture Laboratory is used for the propagation and sale of plantain and pineapple plantlets with its objective being to supply these year round.

Weed Science
The objective of the Weed Science Department is to diagnose and advise on weed problems affecting crops in all administrative regions of Guyana.

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Fruits and Perennial Crops
The main objective of the Fruit and Perennial Crops Programme is to improve production in the fruit sub-sector by:

	The provision of improved pest and disease free planting material from selected local germplasm as well as suitable imported new varieties.
	The transfer of new, appropriate technologies, including improved post harvest procedures, into the farm production process.

Germplasm Collection
The main objectives of the maintenance of the germplasm collections are:

	Use for research purposes.
	Use for seed production, in the case of the orchards, and for the production of planting material.
	Use as an archive.

Nurseries
The main objectives of the nurseries is the propagation of healthy fruit and ornamental plants for sale at affordable prices at convenient locations.

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Livestock
The Livestock Department has its central administrative presence and Guyana’s largest duck breeding, quarantine and incubation facilities at Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara. There are also two major sub units located at Ebini, Intermediate Savannahs and St Ignatius, Rupununi Savannahs.

In forging the Nation’s objectives of Diversification, the Department is actively involved in extension and research activities pertaining to:

Pasture Improvement and Development
Mon Repos houses the Institute’s largest germplasm collection of pasture grasses and legumes. Planting materials and technical services are provided free of cost to farmers across the length and breathe of Guyana.

Duck Breeding
The main species of duck bred at the Mon Repos Livestock Farm for distribution to farmers at a minimal fee are Peking, Kunchan and Muscovy.

The Institute has been successful in breeding two improved species: The Robin Blue and Solo White

Incubation Facilities
There is one modern Jamesway Incubator located at Mon Repos which provides incubation for poultry eggs supplied by farmers for the expansion of their breeding programmes. This service is provided at a minimal fee.

Farmers are advised to ensure there is the correct ratio of males to female and necessary guidelines for breeding flocks are adhere to in order to achieve maximum fertility of eggs. Eggs should be properly cleaned and stored. Eggs should be delivered to NARI on Mondays before 09:00 hrs.

Goat and Sheep Breeding Barbados Black Belly, British Virgin Island Cross, Corentyne White and Corentyne White Cross are the breeds of sheep available at the Mon Repos Livestock Farm.

Improved breeding rams are made available to farmers on priority selection criteria after a review of application made. Rams are distributed during the first and third quarters of the year. A Sheep farmers Registry has been established and farmers are encouraged to swap or trade quality breeding animals provided by NARI  with other farmers in order to further improve the sheep breeding programme country wide.

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The Intermediate Savannahs Programme
The aim of the Intermediate Savannahs Programme (INSAP) is to increase the availability of improved seed of Cowpea and cereals to farmers in the Berbice River Communities and the promotion of zero tillage techniques and sheep production.

Organic Agriculture
 

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Agroprocessing
The Post Harvest & Agro Processing Department has its main laboratory at Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara but has the capacity to conduct training throughout the various agricultural regions in Guyana using the Mobile Agro Processing Facility.

The Department has been trusted with the responsibility of providing technical assistance for the development of enhanced value added products using low cost techniques and improved technology.

At present the Department has the capacity to provide technical assistance in the following areas:

Solar Drying Technology:   This is one of the most inexpensive and economical methods of preservation to enhance value added products. To date, the institute has conducted research and scientific   assessment on the dehydration of perishable commodities such as peppers, celery, fine leaf thyme and other produce.

A mixed mode dryer using a combination of solar and firewood was established by the Institute in Charity Village, ( Region Two – Pomeroon/ Supernaam)  for use by the local population. 

Agro Based Products:   The Institute has embarked on research work related to the production of agro based products for use in both the food and non-food industries. One of the products which was highly successful in this intervention is pectin. This is used presently in the jam and jelly industry as a solidifier. It is obtained on the external market at a very high price. The local production and utilization of pectin will reduce the overhead expenditure of local entrepreneurs.  

Agro processing Technology/Techniques: Research works were conducted pertaining to the production of primary value added products for use in the development of the agro processing industry. One of the main objectives is the utilization of various types of fresh fruits and vegetables in times of seasonal glut for the production of value added, quality products. These products include fruits in syrup, fruit juice blends, fruit jams and jellies, fruit powder, vegetable flour and vegetables in brine.

The Institute also offers technical advice to agro processors on issues such as: equipment type, sourcing of equipment and process flows for products required for production.

Post Harvest Technology:  The Institute has developed various improved post harvest techniques on the improvement of post harvest management of perishable crops such as fruits, vegetables, root crops etc.  These techniques are presently being utilized by exporters and farmers in improving the quality of the crop at harvest and the reduction of post harvest losses  and crop deterioration.

Important areas include harvesting, transport, storage, packaging and marketing.

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This programme's objectives are:

	To execute soils and land use surveys to identify, locate and quantify the different kinds of soils, characterizing these soils in terms of their biological, chemical, physical mineralogical and morphological properties.
	To ameliorate the physical and chemical properties of soils to enhance production.
	To develop sustainable agricultural strategies to enhance agricultural production.

Soils and the Environment

To execute soil and land use surveys to identify, locate and quantify the different kinds of soils, categorizing these soils in terms of their biological, chemical, physical mineralogical and morphological properties.  To ameliorate the physical and chemical properties of soils to enhance crop production and to develop sustainable agricultural strategies to enhance agricultural production.

Soils and Land Use Survey

Mapping

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This page was created and is maintained by the National Agricultural Research Institute,
Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara, Guyana.

If you have any questions or comments, please, contact us at nari@networksgy.com

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