Students at the Guyana School of Agriculture (GSA) are set to benefit from a new $21.8 million training centre and office as the institution strengthens practical instruction in livestock production, animal health and veterinary public health.
The project accounts for part of the government’s $44 million investment in the school’s livestock farm this year.
Addressing GSA’s graduation ceremony on Tuesday, Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha said the upgrades would support training for the country’s developing agriculture sector.
“It provides an important foundation for ensuring that students receive the hands-on training required by a modern agricultural sector,” he said.
The ceremony also saw the first batch of students graduate from the Certificate in Livestock Production and Management programme. Mustapha described the achievement as a milestone for both the school and the livestock industry.
He stressed that increasing local production requires people trained in animal health, efficient livestock management and sustainable farming.
Beyond its student programmes, the minister called on GSA to offer short courses that would help practising farmers improve production and the quality of their produce.
“Bring farmers together, train them in best practices,” he urged.
The school is also using digital farm records to support decisions based on data, while collaboration with the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) is supporting training for farmers and extension officers.
Further development is planned at GSA, with tenders for a Centre of Excellence expected before the end of 2026.
