October is designated Agriculture Month in Guyana, and it is a month set aside by the Ministry of Agriculture and its stakeholders to highlight the successes of this very important sector. As the National Standards Institution, the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) brings to focus its standards, certification, training and measurement services which are crucial for the enhancement and advancement of the local agriculture sector.
Over the years, the GNBS has been working with stakeholders in this growing sector to develop National Standards which ensure good practices and conformance to quality and accelerate its growth and development.
The GNBS list of agriculture-related standards includes the grading of fresh agriculture produce, which can help farmers and retailers to separate produce based on colour, size, freshness, and other characteristics. These grading standards also provide requirements and specifications to help regulators, and consumers identify and consume quality agricultural produce. Other agriculture standards available at the GNBS include those for poultry meats and eggs, coconut water, milk, rice, sugar, and fertilizers.
For agro-processing, there are standards for jams and jellies, coconut oil, salted fish, spices, achar and more, which processors can utilize. These standards cover labelling, packaging, storage, hygiene, and sanitation requirements for products, and offer the requisite guidelines and specification to ensure agricultural produce are wholesome for consumption. They also help agro-processors gain value-added benefits.
Meanwhile, stakeholders in the Agri sector can take advantage of the GNBS Certification services to make produce more marketable and desirable. Local producers and agro-processors can now apply to the GNBS to use the Made in Guyana Certification Mark, which is a signature of quality for authentic Guyanese products.
Already, the Made in Guyana Standards Mark has captured the attention of quite a few agro-processors, with some becoming certified early to use the mark. The Made in Guyana Programme is voluntary and is open to applications from all producers of local products regardless of operation size or product type.
Regarding GNBS training, many farmers, agro-processors and even regulators have had the opportunity to participate in the various GNBS training programmes to increase their competence to implement national and internationally recognised standards for the enhancement of their operational systems and services.
Training offered to those in the sector includes the Hazzard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP) and Good Agricultural Practices (GAP). GAP is a set of principles and standards that govern the safe and sustainable production of crops and livestock. It is aimed at helping farm owners optimize business operations while minimizing production costs and environmental impacts.
The Bureau also provides training on the ISO 22000:2018 Standard: A Food Safety Management System – Requirements for any organization in the food chain. With this training, participants can gain a thorough understanding of how this international standard applies to farming, processing, storage, transportation, cleaning, and sanitation for safe and healthy produce from the farm to the fork.
Lastly, as the National Measurement Institution, the Bureau continuously offers reliable measurement services to farmers, millers and other agriculture-related businesses operating in the sector. These services include the verification of scales, masses and measures use in transactions.
For further information on this subject, contact the GNBS on telephone numbers: 219-0064 or 219-0065 or WhatsApp us on 692-4627.
