Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha yesterday donated planting materials and broiler chicks to the Agriculture Science Department of the North Georgetown Secondary School.
A release from the ministry said that the donation was made after the head of the agriculture science department wrote to the ministry requesting assistance with materials for students who are preparing for the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examination in 2022 and 2023.
“When I received the request from the school, I was delighted to know that the school was involved in agriculture. Quite often, youths believe that agriculture is a minimal job that is only for the mature population. I am happy that the students and teachers are interested in developing the school’s agriculture department and I am optimistic that the interest displayed by the students and teacher will allow them to excel and move on to further develop the sector in this country. Here in Guyana every day our agriculture sector is expanding and, as a government, we are putting more resources so that development can continue to take place,” Mustapha said.
The release said that the Minister also committed to having an extension officer meet with the students to offer technical advice and support while they perform practical exercises which form part of their School-Based Assessments.
Yesterday’s donation consisted of 256 cabbage seedlings, 256 celery seedlings, 128 lettuce seedlings, 128 tomato seedlings and 50 broiler chicks with feed.
Mustapha said that the ministry will also be donating carrots, broccoli, and cauliflower seeds and seedlings along with a shadehouse to further enhance the school’s agriculture science department’s potential.
Head of the school’s agriculture science department, Benjettan Osborne said students are often left to bear the cost of materials to complete the practical aspect of their School-Based Assessments (SBAs) which most are finding difficult due to the financial pressures their parents are facing as a result of the global pandemic.
“Students would usually have to pool money in order to get things done like to buy seedlings, to buy birds, to buy feed, to buy everything as it relates to getting their practical done. This donation will help to alleviate that. Remember we are in a pandemic and we know a lot of parents cannot afford extra expenses. This donation will help to minimize the financial strain on students as it relates to doing the practical aspect of SBAs because it is a lot of work,” the teacher said.
Mustapha also said that the ministry will be offering support to other schools across the country to assist with developing the practical aspect of the agriculture science curriculum.
In the early part of next year, the release said that the ministry is expected to launch a programme targeting schools with active agriculture science departments. The programme will see schools benefiting from shadehouses, tools, and planting materials for both traditional and non-traditional crops.
