Guyana to establish Centre of Excellence at Guyana School of Agriculture

The Government of Guyana is moving ahead with plans to establish a new Centre of Excellence at the Guyana School of Agriculture (GSA), aimed at strengthening agricultural education and expanding practical training opportunities for farmers.

Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha said Wednesday that the initiative will broaden the school’s curriculum and deepen hands-on learning.

“We are also working very closely at the Guyana School of Agriculture to build a Centre of Excellence where we will have more subjects on agriculture, where we will have more practical subjects being taught to farmers so that we can integrate farmers into our programme,” Mustapha said at an event.

He explained that the centre will focus on equipping farmers with modern techniques and applied skills that can be directly implemented on their farms. By integrating farmers into GSA’s academic programmes, the government hopes to spur innovation, increase productivity and strengthen sustainable agricultural development nationwide.

The GSA has long been a pillar of agricultural training, offering instruction in crop cultivation, livestock management, agribusiness and sustainable farming practices.

Discussions about the proposed facility date back to 2023. During the opening of the 2023 Agri-Investment Forum and Expo, President Irfaan Ali announced that the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) and the Government of Guyana would partner to create a Centre of Excellence for young people in Guyana and across the region.

The plan includes transforming the GSA campus on the East Coast of Demerara into a more modern facility, with an increased emphasis on entrepreneurial studies to prepare students not only as producers but as agribusiness leaders.

Officials say the new centre is expected to position Guyana as a regional hub for agricultural training and innovation, while supporting long-term food security and economic growth.