<p>The University of Guyana Berbice Campus (UGBC), in collaboration with the National<br>Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI), Guyana School of Agriculture<br>(GSA), and the Nand Persaud Group of Companies, hosted a three-day workshop on<br>‘Preparation and uses of various bio-fertilisers’ aimed at enhancing the knowledge and skills<br>of students and practitioners in the agriculture sector.</p><p><br>The workshop saw several participants all eager to develop a better understanding of the<br>preparation and effective use of bio-fertilisers to increase their quality and quantity of<br>production. Bio-fertilisers are substances that contain living micro-organisms which, when<br>applied to seeds, plant surface, or soil, colonise the rhizosphere or the interior of the plant and<br>promote growth by increasing the supply or availability of primary nutrients to the host<br>plants. The microorganisms in bio-fertilisers restore the soil’s natural nutrient cycle and build<br>soil organic matter.</p><p><br>Vice-Chancellor Professor Paloma Mohamed Martin said that she was very delighted to see<br>such a programme being hosted to benefit the various stakeholders in Regions 5 and 6, noting<br>that UG is continuously finding ways in which we can find solutions to the various<br>challenges confronting us at all levels of development. The VC thanked the NAREI, GSA<br>and the Nand Persaud Group of Companies for their support in ensuring the training<br>programme was successful.</p><p><br>Further, the VC added, “I hope that the experience and what you have learned were not only<br>fun but also impactful and beneficial. I trust that you will be able to carry that work and what<br>you have learned into the communities and to the farmers that you work with.”<br>Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Academic Engagement Professor Emanuel Cummings, noted<br>that bio-fertilisers are natural fertilisers with minimal health hazards. He noted that most of<br>the vegetables being consumed today are sprayed with chemicals which could result in<br>various illnesses. In this regard, he suggested the use of bio-fertilisers due to their natural<br>content and ability to increase the quality of production.</p><p><br>Director of the UGBC, Professor Gomathinayagam Subramanian, in his remarks said that the<br>university is extremely pleased to host the training programme noting that it will boost the<br>participants’ understanding of the effective use of bio-fertilisers.</p><p>Chief Executive Officer of GSA, Gavin Ramnarine lauded the UGBC for embarking on the<br>initiative and urged the participants to apply the knowledge and skills gained in their various<br>work environments.</p><p><br>Chief Executive Officer of Nand Persaud Group of Companies Mr. Mohindra Persaud, said<br>that he was extremely delighted to see so many young persons participating in the training as<br>they are the ones who will take the sector forward and will need to effectively use technology<br>in the process.</p><p><br>The Workshop concluded on Wednesday with participants receiving certificates of<br>participation.</p><img src="https://uog.edu.gy/sites/default/files/attachments/ceo_nand_persaud_congratulates.png" alt="picture of Chief Executive Officer of Nand Persaud Group of Companies Mr. Mohindra Persaud congratulating the participants at the closing ceremony of the workshop"><p><strong>The University of Guyana in Brief</strong><br>The University of Guyana, the national University of Guyana, now in its 60th year, was<br>founded in October 1963, three years before Guyana became independent. “UG” as it is<br>fondly referred to offers over 160 distinct programmes in over 60 disciplines from<br>certificates, Bachelor’s degrees, Master’s Degrees to Ph.D.’s. These programmes are offered<br>online, face-to-face or in blended formats. UG delivers through a Guyana-based system<br>across eight campuses. This includes its 35-year-old community-based institute for Distance<br>and Continuing Education (IDCE) and the second major campus at Tain in Berbice celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2025. The University of Guyana’s student population is<br>over 11,000.</p><p><br>Through its 8 Faculties, including an accredited College of Medical Sciences, School for<br>Entrepreneurship and Business Innovation and the School for Earth and Environmental<br>Sciences which is ranked # 5 globally, “UG” has provided education, training and research<br>for over 60,000 alumni over its 60-year history with significant national and global impact.<br>Other faculties include the Faculty of Engineering and Technology, The Faculty of<br>Agriculture and Forestry, The Faculty of Natural Sciences, The College of Behavioural<br>Sciences and Research, The Faculty of Education and Humanities and the Faculty of Social<br>Sciences. The University is also home to 10 Research Institutes including the internationally<br>important Centre for Biodiversity, The Institute for Food and Nutrition Security, The Institute<br>for Innovation, Research and Entrepreneurship, The Institute for Energy Diplomacy, The<br>Green Institute, The Institute for Human Resiliency, Strategic Security and the Future, and<br>the International Centre for Excellence in Early Childhood Education. The mission of the<br>University of Guyana is to discover, generate, disseminate and apply knowledge of the<br>highest standard for advancement of communities, the nation, and mankind within an<br>atmosphere of academic freedom, transparent accountability, pragmatic innovation and<br>universal respect.</p><p><br>UG’s forward-thinking Blueprint 2040 is currently setting the course for the University’s<br>future design and institutional response to the changing needs of Guyana, the region and the<br>world. UG is currently celebrating its 60th anniversary with renewed focus on becoming the<br>leading teaching and research University in Guyana. Visit UG at www.uog.edu.gy<br><br>&nbsp;</p>