The University of Guyana Berbice Campus (UGBC), in collaboration with the National
Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI), Guyana School of Agriculture
(GSA), and the Nand Persaud Group of Companies, hosted a three-day workshop on
‘Preparation and uses of various bio-fertilisers’ aimed at enhancing the knowledge and skills
of students and practitioners in the agriculture sector.

The workshop saw several participants all eager to develop a better understanding of the
preparation and effective use of bio-fertilisers to increase their quality and quantity of
production. Bio-fertilisers are substances that contain living micro-organisms which, when
applied to seeds, plant surface, or soil, colonise the rhizosphere or the interior of the plant and
promote growth by increasing the supply or availability of primary nutrients to the host
plants. The microorganisms in bio-fertilisers restore the soil’s natural nutrient cycle and build
soil organic matter.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Paloma Mohamed Martin said that she was very delighted to see
such a programme being hosted to benefit the various stakeholders in Regions 5 and 6, noting
that UG is continuously finding ways in which we can find solutions to the various
challenges confronting us at all levels of development. The VC thanked the NAREI, GSA
and the Nand Persaud Group of Companies for their support in ensuring the training
programme was successful.

Further, the VC added, “I hope that the experience and what you have learned were not only
fun but also impactful and beneficial. I trust that you will be able to carry that work and what
you have learned into the communities and to the farmers that you work with.”
Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Academic Engagement Professor Emanuel Cummings, noted
that bio-fertilisers are natural fertilisers with minimal health hazards. He noted that most of
the vegetables being consumed today are sprayed with chemicals which could result in
various illnesses. In this regard, he suggested the use of bio-fertilisers due to their natural
content and ability to increase the quality of production.

Director of the UGBC, Professor Gomathinayagam Subramanian, in his remarks said that the
university is extremely pleased to host the training programme noting that it will boost the
participants’ understanding of the effective use of bio-fertilisers.

Chief Executive Officer of GSA, Gavin Ramnarine lauded the UGBC for embarking on the
initiative and urged the participants to apply the knowledge and skills gained in their various
work environments.

Chief Executive Officer of Nand Persaud Group of Companies Mr. Mohindra Persaud, said
that he was extremely delighted to see so many young persons participating in the training as
they are the ones who will take the sector forward and will need to effectively use technology
in the process.

The Workshop concluded on Wednesday with participants receiving certificates of
participation.

The University of Guyana in Brief
The University of Guyana, the national University of Guyana, now in its 60th year, was
founded in October 1963, three years before Guyana became independent. “UG” as it is
fondly referred to offers over 160 distinct programmes in over 60 disciplines from
certificates, Bachelor’s degrees, Master’s Degrees to Ph.D.’s. These programmes are offered
online, face-to-face or in blended formats. UG delivers through a Guyana-based system
across eight campuses. This includes its 35-year-old community-based institute for Distance
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
over 11,000.

Through its 8 Faculties, including an accredited College of Medical Sciences, School for
Entrepreneurship and Business Innovation and the School for Earth and Environmental
Sciences which is ranked # 5 globally, “UG” has provided education, training and research
for over 60,000 alumni over its 60-year history with significant national and global impact.
Other faculties include the Faculty of Engineering and Technology, The Faculty of
Agriculture and Forestry, The Faculty of Natural Sciences, The College of Behavioural
Sciences and Research, The Faculty of Education and Humanities and the Faculty of Social
Sciences. The University is also home to 10 Research Institutes including the internationally
important Centre for Biodiversity, The Institute for Food and Nutrition Security, The Institute
for Innovation, Research and Entrepreneurship, The Institute for Energy Diplomacy, The
Green Institute, The Institute for Human Resiliency, Strategic Security and the Future, and
the International Centre for Excellence in Early Childhood Education. The mission of the
University of Guyana is to discover, generate, disseminate and apply knowledge of the
highest standard for advancement of communities, the nation, and mankind within an
atmosphere of academic freedom, transparent accountability, pragmatic innovation and
universal respect.

UG’s forward-thinking Blueprint 2040 is currently setting the course for the University’s
future design and institutional response to the changing needs of Guyana, the region and the
world. UG is currently celebrating its 60th anniversary with renewed focus on becoming the
leading teaching and research University in Guyana. Visit UG at www.uog.edu.gy