Composting in Guyana - Dr. Hwei-Yiing Johnson

The National Agricultural Research & Extension Institute (NAREI) in Guyana is the premier organization responsible for spearheading agricultural research and extension activities for productivity enhancement and diversification. NAREI’s vision is “to ensure food security, prosperity, and livelihoods for all, using technological innovations in agriculture.”

NAREI was interested in building its capacity in composting and soil fertility management after hosting their first F2F volunteer assignment in August 2019. As a result, NAREI requested a F2F volunteer to meet with groups of beneficiaries from the last assignment to: i) assess the status of their composting skills and provide further guidance as required, and ii) provide training in advanced thermophilic aerobic composting to selected groups of farmers.

Dr. Hwei Yiing Johnson was chosen to fulfill this assignment. She holds a B.S. in Agronomy, an M.S. in Crop Physiology, and a Ph.D. in Plant Physiology. She has been a F2F volunteer in the past in Liberia, Ghana, and the Dominican Republic and is currently an Environmental Specialist with the Missouri State Government’s Department of Health and Senior Services. Dr. Johnson spent two weeks in Guyana in February 2020 where she provided specialized compost training to NAREI’s staff but also to several production groups which included the Permaculture-Sahakari Group and Probeldad Plus Future Leaders Cooperative Society.

An estimated 82 individuals were directly trained both in the theory and practice of compost production. Dr. Johnson’s training focused on composting principles and technologies, process monitoring, quality evaluation, and compost uses. The practical lessons consisted mostly of worm beds and grass heaps. At the end of her assignment, Dr. Johnson made various observations and recommendations to improve the techniques previously used for composting by NAREI.

For example, she recommended that they install a shade screen to protect worms from the morning sun and keep the worm bed cool, and to top the bed with a mesh screen to protect worms from varmints and flies. For their grass heaps, she recommended that they introduce high nitrogen waste like fresh animal manure, vegetable debris, or food waste, and to top the grass piles with breathable fabric or large sheets of cardboard to shade them and keep the heat and moisture inside.

Dr. Hwei Yiing Johnson, a very kind-hearted individual, stressed that it was a pleasure for her to volunteer in Guyana and share her expertise, especially as it involved socializing and interacting with the Guyanese people. She was very thankful for the coordination, guidance, and support of the country director, Kelvin, field officers, Jermaine and Ramsingh, driver Colin and all the growers for their hospitality.