More farmers in Guyana are embracing science and technology, as the country combats global challenges including climate change, and disruptions on the world market, according to the Minister of Agriculture, Zulficar Mustapha.

“Our farmers are innovating by embracing science, technology, research, mechanization, digital agriculture and climate smart production,” the Agriculture Minister said.

This morning, Minister Mustapha delivered the keynote address during the launch of Agriculture Month under the theme “Innovate, Nourish, Grow: Building a Strong and Sustainable Guyana.”

He said drone technology has transformed the way in which agriculture is done in the country, while applications such as the Farmers Connect App are providing farmers with real time information on the Agriculture Sector from weather updates to advisories.

“We are now seeing drone technology…sensor-based precision irrigation, the farmers app are now being used more and more by farmers. Right here at the Ministry of Agriculture, we have an app where farmers, who can live in Region One or Region 10 or the remote part of Region Nine, and you can have regular service through that app from the Ministry of Agriculture here in Georgetown, that is the innovation I am talking about,” Minister Mustapha said.

Mustapha said the increasing use of technology forms part of Government’s efforts to ensure citizens are provided with safe, nutritious and a reliable supply of food as the country forges ahead with plans to become a leader in the area of food security within the Latin America and Caribbean Region.

Citing a report from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the Agriculture Minister said Guyana is among four countries within the Latin America and Caribbean Region that have a hunger and undernourishment prevalence under 2.5%. He said that is indicative of the strides made.

Notwithstanding the a decline in the Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Sector, which contracted by 0.5% during the first half of the year, the Agriculture Minister said “Guyana is grow, and the Agriculture Sector is growing with it” with increased opportunities across the various subsectors.

He reported that more young people are being drawn to the sector in addition to women.

 According to him, the Agriculture Ministry has surpassed the mandate given to it by the President for all projects under the Ministry to constitute 35% of women and young people.

“When you look around our country today, more and more women are involved in agriculture. Look at the agro-processing sector, we have over 4,000 products now coming out of the agro-processing sector. Almost 90% of the participants in the agro-processing sector are women. Look at young people today, young people who would have pass through the Guyana School of Agriculture, the University of Guyana, today they are actively involved in agriculture, they are making their livelihood through agriculture before they were just clerical workers. Look at the Agriculture Innovation Entrepreneurship Programme that we started, hundreds of young people are involved in that programme,” he explained.

He admitted, however, that there are still challenges facing the Agriculture sector.

Guyana like the rest of the world is grappling with the effects of climate change in particular extreme weather events, and disruption to global chains.

Minister Mustapha noted that the effects of changing weather patterns including the prospects of drier periods and higher temperatures associated with the current El Nino condition, underscore the importance of preparedness, effective water management and climate resilience in agriculture.

He said despite these challenges, Guyana continues to demonstrate the strength and resilience of its agriculture sector and its capacity to safeguard food security.

Source: News Source Guyana

Shubman Gill scored a career-best 223 not out as India sensationally chased down West Indies’ record 405-7 with 39 balls to spare in the second one-day international in Guwahati.

West Indies looked to be favourites at the interval having posted their highest ever total in the format, with John Campbell (101), Shai Hope (104) and Amir Jangoo (114) all hitting centuries.

India captain Gill, however, was in sublime form – bringing up his century off just 62 balls and his 200 just 55 balls later.

The elegant right-hander plundered eight sixes and 26 fours, putting on 255 for the first wicket with Rohit Sharma, who scored a century of his own.

Rohit was trapped lbw for 101, his 35th ODI hundred, and Virat Kohli fell for 29, but Ruturaj Gaikwad (31*) joined Gill to ensure India won in style and with remarkable ease.

Earlier, centuries for Campbell, Hope and Jangoo meant the Windies recorded their highest team total in the format. It was only the sixth time in ODI history that a team has had three centurions in one innings

Campbell and Hope put on 110 in 79 balls for the second wicket, before a huge third-wicket partnership of 182 between Hope and Jangoo set the platform for a record total.

Left-handed opener Campbell struck five sixes in his rapid century and took 22 off one Prasidh Krishna over.

India bowlers Krishna and Naman Dhir picked up injuries while paceman Auqib Nabi had a debut to forget – conceding 84 runs, the fourth-most by an Indian winning his first ODI cap.

West Indies’ batting performance comes less than a week since news that their players must take a 25% pay cut as part of wider cost-saving measures.

The two-time World Cup winners are also facing a battle to qualify directly for next year’s competition, having been consigned to a qualifier in early 2027. (BBC)

Source: NEW ROOMS SITE

Hayley Matthews scored her second century in three matches while Shemaine Campbelle missed what would’ve been her second ODI hundred by a whisker as West Indies took home the three-match series against Zimbabwe 2-1.

West Indies posted 271-5 after being asked to bat, before bowling out the hosts for 180.

West Indies began cautiously in the series decider but Matthews scored 34 of the 38 they made in the first ten overs.

Her opening partner Realeanna Grimmond’s struggles soon came to an end when left-arm seamer Nomvelo Sibanda bowled her for 3 off 27 balls. That was the only bit of cheer for Zimbabwe before Matthews and Campbelle added 160 for the second wicket off 168 balls.

Matthews scored at a brisk rate right from the start. She got to fifty off 55 balls before galloping to a century off just 98 deliveries. That allowed Campbelle to pace her innings. Matthews, who had missed out on a double century in the first ODI, miscued Sibanda to fall for 118 off 113 balls in the 39th over.

Campbelle, meanwhile, patiently got to 50 in 70 balls, but quickened up to score her next 46 runs in 49 deliveries before her dismissal. She looked to whip legspinner Beloved Biza through midwicket, but Kelis Ndhlovu took a diving catch to dismiss her.

Jannillea Glasgow and Jahzara Claxton found some boundaries towards the end to propel West Indies to a big total.

In response, Zimbabwe were never in the chase. They lost their openers in the first 14 balls, with Modester Mupachikwa falling to an athletic effort from Grimmond at deep midwicket. She ran in diagonally from the rope and then dived to pouch an aerial flick, much to left-arm spinner Zaida James’ surprise.

Only captain Josephine Nkomo offered some resistance for Zimbabwe. She scored her sixth ODI fifty, and finished 74 not out – that was just two shy of her highest ODI score – as she ran out of partners.

But what would leave West Indies a little concerned despite the comfortable 91-run win is Campbelle’s fitness. In the eighth over of the chase, she held her chest and went down, and had to be stretchered out.

With Matthews missing the T20I leg of the tour for personal reasons, Campbelle would have been a candidate to lead West Indies in the three-match series. (Cricinfo)

Source: NEW ROOMS SITE

Farmers’ markets will be hosted across the country over the coming months as part of efforts to address high food prices, Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapaha said on Wednesday.

The move comes amid concerns about the prices of agricultural produce on the local market.

The first of these massive farmers’ market will be held on Wednesday at the National Exhibition Centre, Sophia, marking the commencement of Agriculture Month. This month’s activities will be held under the theme “Innovate, Nourish, Grow: Building a Strong and Sustainable Guyana.”

Farmers’ Markets will be hosted in various parts of the country every Wednesday.

During an interview on the sidelines of the official launch of Agriculture Month, Mustapha said the stark concerns over higher produced foods’ cost is widely influenced by markups by middle-men selling the produce.

“There is not a price control in this country. If the middle men are buying their things from the farmers and going there to sell it with a three or four hundred per cent markup then that is why we are intervening,” the minister said.

He said the government’s response is to facilitate farmers’ markets where producers can sell directly to consumers, cutting out some of the intermediaries in the supply chain.

Meanwhile, Mustapha expressed optimism that agricultural production will rebound by the end of the year. He also said that the farmers have been producing more food but are unable to get direct access to consumers.

“We are producing. Farmers are in the field every day, early and sometimes late in the night but sometimes they are not getting the kind of reward that they have to get,” Mustapha said.

The push for farmers’ markets is therefore being positioned as part of a broader effort to strengthen the agricultural sector while making locally produced food more affordable to consumers.

Source: NEW ROOMS SITE

Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha on Wednesday said Guyana expects about 1,000 pregnant heifers, as part of its ongoing livestock development programme.

The announcement was made on the sidelines of the launch of Agriculture Month activities on Wednesday. This year’s activities will be held under the theme “Innovate, Nourish, Grow: Building a Strong and Sustainable Guyana.”

Mustapha said the initial shipment from Brazil was smaller than the eventual target, with around 300 animals already in Guyana.

“They have to bring 1,000 pregnant heifers. I think they have all the mechanisms in place that different [shipments] will be coming because you have to have a period of quarantine before the animals can come,” Mustpaha said at the National Exhibition Complex, Sophia.

The programme is continuing and additional shipments are expected with the next  arrival slated for one week’s time and will continue throughout the coming weeks. He said the regular arrival of the heifers is expected because the quarantine period has commenced for those remaining in Brazil.

According to Mustapha the logistical considerations affecting the timing of the shipments, including quarantine requirements for the animals before they can be brought into the country needed to be worked out, causing a smaller shipment in the first arrival of the animals.

The 1,000 pregnant heifers are expected to strengthen the national breeding herd and improve livestock genetics.

The ministry previously said the cattle successfully completed all veterinary health inspections, testing and quarantine requirements before export and meet Guyana’s animal health import standards.

Source: NEW ROOMS SITE

Source: Demerara Waves

Guyana, Greece sign Air Service Agreement to strengthen aviation connectivity

Guyana and Greece are strengthening bilateral relations and expanding opportunities for air connectivity with the signing of an Air Service Agreement.

The agreement was signed on Wednesday by the Minister of Public Utilities and Aviation, Deodat Indar and His Excellency Theodore N. Tsakiris, Ambassador of the Hellenic Republic of Greece to Guyana, on the margins of the Global Forum for Aviation Safety currently being held in Georgetown.

The agreement establishes a framework for air transport cooperation between Guyana and Greece, providing a foundation for greater connectivity and future opportunities for airlines and the travelling public.

For Guyana, the agreement comes at a time when the country’s aviation sector is experiencing significant growth, with increasing passenger traffic and a growing number of international airlines serving the local market.

The strengthened aviation relationship with Greece also creates potential opportunities to facilitate travel between Guyana and Europe, while supporting the movement of people, business and tourism.

As Guyana continues to position itself as a growing regional aviation hub, agreements of this nature are important to expanding the country’s network of international air service relationships and creating pathways for new connections.

The agreement also strengthens the broader diplomatic and economic relationship between Guyana and Greece, providing a framework for increased cooperation in an area critical to tourism, trade and international mobility.

The signing took place as Guyana hosts the Global Forum for Aviation Safety, bringing together aviation regulators, safety experts and industry stakeholders from countries across the world to examine strategies for strengthening aviation safety and cooperation.

Through the Air Service Agreement, Guyana and Greece are now laying the groundwork for deeper collaboration in civil aviation while opening new possibilities for connectivity between the two countries.

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