Catapulting forward: Advances in Guyana's public extension for livestock producers

                                          

 

The Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA) is the chief institution coordinating the country’s livestock development activities. With increasing participation in the livestock sector, producers rely on the on GLDA to mitigate risk, provide extension services, and help farmers innovate. To support its internal capacity building during the pandemic, GLDA and Farmer-to-Farmer (F2F) Guyana formed a productive partnership to facilitate knowledge sharing between US remote volunteers, local in-country volunteers, and GLDA personnel.

To improve its feed formulation and testing services, the GLDA turned to F2F Guyana to request volunteer assistance in improving its feed laboratory’s operating procedures and infrastructure plan. F2F Guyana and the GLDA selected remote volunteer Mr. Francisco Rivera to guide the new lab staff; Mr. Rivera is an extension specialist from Florida with expertise in animal nutrition. To support the remote effort, Miss Abiola Bruce Smith, a livestock extension agent in Guyana, served as a local volunteer to contextualize Francisco's information and help the GLDA implement changes.

Together, volunteers Abiola and Francisco conducted a four-session virtual course on laboratory-based extension with GLDA lab staff. The pair trained staff on Near-infrared Spectroscopy for feed analysis, laboratory Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), and sample processing. The volunteers also trained the GLDA staff on body condition scoring for animals, livestock nutrition requirements, ration formulation, and feed crop agronomy. At the end of the assignment, the volunteers provided recommendations to the host that included developing laboratory SOPs, hiring an animal nutritionist, purchasing tools for testing soil chemistry, and stocking backup batteries.

  

As a result of the assignment and the committed follow-up from the local volunteer, the laboratory staff members demonstrated improved methods and implemented all volunteer recommendations. They continue to apply the tools and techniques learned during the online workshops. The staff used the Association of Official Agricultural Chemists' guidelines to develop SOPs and hired an animal nutrition expert. The GLDA team also procured all required equipment to provide adequate soil and feed formula analysis. With its new practices and equipment, the lab staff demonstrated enhanced preparedness to serve producers.

Thanks to Mr. Rivera and Miss Bruce-Smith's support, the GLDA has drastically enhanced its staff capacity and improved its infrastructure. With an improved laboratory service, Guyanese livestock producers now receive advanced laboratory-based support to ensure their animals get adequate nutrition. These innovations, spearheaded by F2F Guyana and the GLDA, will improve producers' production, sales, and prosperity in one of Guyana's most important value chains.  

Miss Bruce-Smith reflected on the assignment: "This experience has helped me develop a sense of confidence, higher-level thinking, self-management, and leadership skills. This exposure has increased my understanding of diverse perspectives as they relate to animal nutrition and laboratory management. I look forward to continuing our work with our colleagues from Partners of the Americas."

Similarly, Mr. Rivera commented: "This collaboration helped us share our knowledge with others but at the same time, allowed us to grow as individuals and professionals. I am amazed by how grateful the laboratory team was and by their willingness to improve their laboratory procedures and practices. This project brought us great personal satisfaction, and I am proud to be part of it. Now I feel I have new friends in Guyana, and I hope to have one day the opportunity to visit the team and see the laboratory progressing."