15 new cassava varieties for planting

Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud today met with two regional experts where the introduction of 15 new cassava varieties to Guyana was addressed, the Government Information Agency reported.

Persaud met with Head of the Latin America and Caribbean Consortium to Support Cassava Research and Development (CLAYUCA), Dr. Bernardo Ospina Patino and Cassava Expert, Candida Lopez, from Colombia.

The team will be working along with the National Agricultural Research Institute (NARI) in the selection of elite cassava species to be produced in Guyana, for food purposes, feed for livestock and fuel.
Trinidad recently embarked on large scale cassava production with the aim of cutting its food import bill while in Guyana farmers have recently complained to Stabroek News that prices for their cassava are extremely low.