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Abstract
The Guyana School of Agriculture (GSA) was established in the year
1963 by former President Dr. Cheddi Jagan. It became a state corporation in 1964
offering the Diploma in Agriculture and the Certificate in Agriculture Programmes, and
graduated the first batch of 15 students in 1966. Agricultural diversification has become
an important mechanism for economic growth by providing opportunities that facilitate
technological advancement and demand driven government policy. In recognition of this
and the consequences of the external environment that influence the process of
agricultural diversification, the Guyana School of Agriculture generated a desire to build
resilience into its academic programmes. In the year 1994 the Certificate in Forestry
Programme was introduced, followed by the introduction of the Animal Health and
Veterinary Public Health Programme in 2007 and the Certificate in Fisheries
Programme was offered in 2008. The school over the years has graduated 2935
persons in different fields of agriculture and forestry celebrating 50 years of existence.
This paper outlines the role of the Guyana School of Agriculture in addressing technical
capacity building for agricultural diversification through the development of skills and
capacities, as well as enhanced knowledge and information exchange between, the
actors involved in innovation, including farmers and their organizations, agricultural
research, education and training institutions, extension and advisory services
institutions, and the researchers and professionals working in the agricultural sector of
Guyana and the Caribbean. The School's programmes has not only allowed graduates
to matriculate to local and international Universities and Collages but also their
contribution to the sector has been remarkable with a geographic spread of 21 countries
in the Caribbean and even in the African continent. This has been seen as a vital role in
achieving robust and sustained growth in agriculture and therefore, GSA will continue to
build on its strengths while seeking new opportunities for partnering and collaboration.
This legacy would allow young people the opportunity to be involved in Agriculture and
Forestry to realize their full potential and create wealth and at the same time preserve
and conserve the environment for future generation