Georgetown: Agriculture Extension officers play an integral role in ensuring farmers are better aware of good agricultural and best practices to enable greater productivity and returns.
To capitalize on this, the Faculty of Food and Agriculture, University of the West Indies through a collaborative approach with extension service providers of CARICOM, today officially launched the Caribbean Extension providers Network (CAEPNet) during Caribbean Week of Agriculture 2013.
Speaking at the event, Dean of Faculty of Food and Agriculture, UWI, Mr. Issac Bekele pointed to the fact that such an initiative plays an integral role in the transformation of agriculture in the region.
He alluded to the fact that the establishment of CAEPNet, will better formulate effective agricultural planning as presently there is a vast regional network for extension providers.
“There is an opportunity for serious work and there remains the need to build capacity to not only the skills of extension officers but also it can be used as a tool to effective mandate, and research,” he said.
According to UWI’s Dean of Faculty, regional approach is effective in tackling some of the pressing issues which may arise from time to time.
Hon. John Baptise, Minister of Agriculture, St. Lucia who graced the event with his presence reminded the gathering that agriculture today, has significantly transformed and can no longer be regarded as a luxury that is placed on a shelf.
He expressed his delight as such an initiative as it will go a long way in further expanding and promoting the sector.
Delivering the feature address to officially launch the extension network, Agriculture Minister Hon. Dr. Leslie Ramsammy underscoring the importance of agriculture, pointed to the fact that much have been achieved over the years through research and the implementation of better policy initiatives.
It described the network as a critical one in developing the agriculture sector, as it will ensure that extension services are significantly evolved.
“More recently the Jagdeo Initiative that we all endorsed reiterated that notion….50 years ago when Cheddi Jagan embraced that notion we walked the walked little. The fact that we embraced the notion little is the fact that the UWI our training would take agriculture and move it into a sub programme rather than a major programme and I am glad that we have now remedied that,” he said.
Minister Ramsammy pointed out that extension officers play a critical role and as such, it is time that their efforts are better acknowledged as a mechanism in advancing agriculture in the region.
“I am glad that we in the Caribbean understand that human resources for agriculture is a critical element in a sustainable development plan for the Caribbean and we ignored that imperative at a time when we are looking at our development and sustainability in the face of insecurities such an energy and security, food and nutrition insecurity, water insecurity, weather insecurity,” he said.
According to Minister Ramsammy, it would be important that agriculture is not only transformed to become a pillar of the country’s development, but rather to propel the country’s development.
The organizers were also charged by the Minister to ensure that the extension network become one of the most effective in the region.
In addition, Minister Ramsammy also committed to ensuring full participation of Guyana’s extension officers in ensuring the effectiveness of CAEPNet.
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