Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud on Monday met with a US plant genetic scientist and a university researcher to discuss strengthening NARI’s scientific capacity and infrastructure for effective conservation and use for plant genetic resources.
Persaud held discussions with Plant Genetic Resources Specialist Dr Karen Williams of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Dr T Keisha of the Washington State University, a Government Information Agency press release said.
He said the ministry’s long term-goal is to expand the National Agricultural Re-search Institute’s (NARI) role in plant and crop development and NARI Director Dr Oudho Homenauth has been tasked with briefing the doctors about some of NARI’s strategic focus areas.
Dr Keisha said his laboratory at the University has made significant strides in a type of software genetic bio-diversity analysis and in the study of landscape genetics.
He said he has brought several programmes which he is eager to share with NARI.
Persaud noted that NARI is not primarily involved in research. “It is more or less technology, what is relevant and making it available to farmers.
That is why we must develop some sort of understanding and collaborate because our resources are not so vast,” he said. The minister said Guyana relies on the USDA and other institutions like the University to overcome constraints in making genetic diversity available to farmers.
Dr Williams said the in-study of genetic diversity is always aimed at farmers and Guyana has a wealth of native genetic potential that can be used if understood.
She said in 2001 she accompanied a team to Guyana and made recommendations for a Genetic Research Group to be formed at NARI. She added that she was happy to learn that such a group was established and that they were able to solicit support from the USDA.
