It is Agriculture Month and the Ministry of Agriculture along with its support agencies are spearheading several activities planned for the month. These activities provide opportunities for the Ministry and its agencies to showcase their individual contributions to Guyana and to stir up stakeholders’ interests in its development. The theme for this year’s observances is “Championing Food Security through Innovation, Investment and Resilience.”
Over the years, the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) has been at the forefront in its delivery of crucial Quality Infrastructure (QI) services to realize the potential of players across the agriculture sector including Regulators, Agro processors and Farmers. These QI services, which include Standards, Metrology (measurement), Conformity Assessment and Certification have had a surmounting effect on the cultivation of agro produce, the streamlining of manufacturing processes for value added products, and the delivery of services for increased competitiveness and the ultimate resilience of the sector.
Currently, for Agro-businesses alone, the GNBS has more than seventy-five (75) National Standards that relate to agro-processing and the grading of produce. Many businesses have sought to implement these National and International Standards in their operations to improve quality and to gain market access.
Recognizing that many agro-businesses, especially small businesses, lack the knowledge to implement the requirements of standards, the GNBS under its Business Development Department continues to provide critical support through training and technical assistance on the relevant standards and guidelines. Some of these training include courses on the ISO 22000:2018 – Food Safety Management System, HACCP, Good agricultural and manufacturing practices, and the grading of agriculture produce.
Today, many agro-processors are also taking advantage of Certification provided by the GNBS. Aside from their commitment to international and other certification demanded by the market for their products, agro-processors are pushing to join the Made in Guyana Certification Mark Programme offered by the GNBS. In fact, currently agro-processors are the leading category of businesses certified to use the Made in Guyana Standards Mark on their products. These businesses are relying on the prestigious Standards Mark to increase market access in a competitive business environment.
Already, many of these Made in Guyana certified agro-processors are sharing their testimonies on the increased visibility their businesses and products have because of the certification.
Finally, Metrology as the science of measurement is also a QI service offered by the GNBS. The Bureau continues to verify measuring instruments used in the agriculture sector and other sectors of our country’s economy to maintain accuracy and reliability. The GNBS measurement (verification) services ensure that farmers, millers, and distributors of agro- produce and products continually benefit from transparent measurement transactions.
Notwithstanding the progress made by the GNBS in the delivery of QI Services to stakeholders, more is anticipated in the not-too-distant future. With the construction of its state-of-the-art metrology and testing laboratories, the GNBS will be able to provide a wider range of accredited services stakeholders need, to demonstrate conformance of their products and services and to increase consumer confidence.
In closing, the GNBS encourages more businesses to take advantage of the QI services it provides. These services will help them to innovate, invest, and strive for resilience in today’s increasingly competitive business environment.
