Dear Editor,
Agriculture has always been the basis of Guyana’s development. History reveals that the country’s economic growth has been dependent on agricultural production ‒ from cotton, cocoa and coffee, to rice, sugar cane and coconut.
Today, more than ever, agriculture must be seen as the sheet anchor, one can say, of the nation’s progress. Expansion and diversity within the sector could be greater in keeping with the overall aim of the government to ensure that citizens are aware of the necessity to accept agriculture as a sound approach to development, particularly in a ‘green environment’.
It is therefore important for persons to understand the professionalism which is necessary if agriculture is to be beneficial to this country and the world as a whole. No longer should farming be seen as simply a spare time activity. The world, with Guyana in focus, needs the qualified personnel who will boost production, be efficient and so find reward in a well-made choice.
To many a layman, agriculture is merely laborious work in the fields, but professional agriculture is ‘the art and science of raising crops and livestock for food, fibre, forage’ and yes, medicine. Use of appropriate technology over the years has significantly reduced labour intensive operations. Agriculture involves three broad categories of work ‒ field, laboratory and research. At a professional level, one must have a working knowledge of all three areas, though one may tend to specialise in some particular aspect of agricultural science.
One can choose to work with plants, animals, machines or in a laboratory, and even more recently, agro-tourism ‒ all different aspects of what is called agriculture. With reference to plants, the choices include those of the agricultural field assistant, horticulturist and plant pathologist. Their responsibilities cover work in the field advising farmers how to produce better crops, practical work with the inclusion of propagation, fruiting quality and the like, and the diagnosis of plant diseases and recommendations in relation to control measures.
Soil science, whether edaphology or pedology, is designed to deal with the nature and properties of soil relevant to plant growth. As regards animal science, responsibilities are directed towards animal health and selective breeding while engine maintenance and experiments in the pure sciences relate to the machines and laboratory aspects, respectively. Agro-tourism is simply tourism activities conducted on a farm site.
The foregoing choices in agriculture are by no means exhaustive. There are several other specialist areas which can be pursued. Agri-related areas are often not seen as connected with the discipline but are certainly part of the whole spectrum. Whatever the area, direct or related, it is not surprising that many persons are involved in this sound approach to a country’s advancement.
In the interest of national development, agricultural science ought to be revitalised and glamourised in schools throughout Guyana without delay. A practical approach is the surest way of attracting young minds to the science. Educators ought not to value themselves only by what they know but by what they do with what they know.
By the way, is the Ministry of Education aware that agricultural science is offered as a subject at St Mary’s Secondary School, Georgetown?
Yours faithfully,
Fitz H Ogle
