Partners of the Americas - Guyana Chapter History
Major projects implemented:
- Shadehouse Production and Marketing Project (2010 - 2012)
- Sustainable Livelihoods and Community Economic Growth through Hydroponic and Organic Vegetable Production and Marketing Project (2013 - 2017)
- Small Business Bureau Training (2015 - 2016)
- Building Teaching, Research and Extension Capacity at UAPB to Enhance Global Learning and Strengthen Sweet Potato Production in Guyana and the Arkansas Delta. (2015 - present)
Small Business Bureau Training Program
Further during 2015-2016, Partners trained more than 300 persons in Business Plan Preparation on behalf of the Small Business Bureau of Guyana. Seventy five percent (75 %) of those trained were successful in obtaining grants. Topics included: understanding business; legal requirements of a business; requirements to start a small / micro business; types / forms of business organisations /structures; marketing and strategic planning.
Sustainable Livelihoods and Community Economic Growth through Hydroponic and Organic Vegetable Production and Marketing Project – ATN/JO-13502-GY (2013-2017)
The Sustainable Livelihoods and Economic Growth through Hydroponic and Organic Vegetable Production (SLEGP) was a project implemented by the Partners of the Americas; and funded by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) / Japanese Trust Fund (JTF). The project aimed at providing sustainable livelihoods and economic empowerment among the vulnerable and disadvantaged groups in selected regions of Guyana. The project was implemented over a fouryear period, from February 2013 to January 2017. There were three components: the development of hydroponic shade-houses/home-based gardens for vegetable production; the promotion and marketing of the vegetables produced; and the development of associations of hydroponic/natural vegetable producers. A summary of the targets and accomplishments of the project appears below.
Building Teaching, Research and Extension Capacity at UAPB to Enhance Global Learning and Strengthen Sweet Potato Production in Guyana and the Arkansas Delta. (2015-present)
The School of Agriculture, Fisheries and Human Sciences at the University of Arkansas Pine Bluff (UAPB) through a USDA US$600,000 grant is implementing an integrated research, teaching and extension project that is geared to enhance the global learning process and strengthen sweet potato production in Arkansas and Guyana. Partners of the Americas (Guyana Chapter) is assisting in the management of this project in Guyana. Project objectives include: 1) training UAPB and Guyana students in research involving germplasm development through laboratory and field based experiences; 2) establishing a polocrosse and virus-testing laboratory in Guyana and building upon UAPB’s Foundation Seed Program and germplasm development research; 2) developing insect resistant sweet potato lines through breeding and genomics; and 3) strengthening the extension program in sweet potato production to effectively meet the needs of farmers in the Arkansas Delta and Guyana.
Education Abroad Program of the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff
For two years, 2016 and 2017, Partners of the Americas (Guyana Chapter) coordinated the Guyana leg of the Education Abroad Program of UAPB. In 2016, Guyana was one of four countries included in the Education Abroad Program of the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB). The other countries were France, Mexico and Ghana. In 2016, two female UAPB students, Chelsea Robinson, a senior in Regulatory Science (Agriculture Option) and Ashlyn Carlton, a sophomore in Animal Science will spend one month (July 9th – August 6th). They were accompanied by Guyanese-born Professor, Dr. Iris Cole-Crosby.
In 2017, Guyana was again honoured and fortunate to be one of five countries included in the Education Abroad Program of the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB). The other countries were China, Ghana, Mexico and Dominican Republic. Three female UAPB students, Ms. Imani Coleman, a sophomore majoring in Agronomy, Ms. LaTaylor Rembert, a sophomore majoring in Agriculture Business and Ms. Laura Wright, a sophomore majoring in Animal Science, spent one month (July 8th – August 5th) in Guyana. They were accompanied by Program Coordinator, Ms. Kacy Wright, UAPB PhD student and Guyanese born Assistant Program Coordinator, UAPB MSc student, Mr. Ryan Nedd.
In both years, the students spent their time in Guyana learning about agriculture in Guyana but also learning generally about life in a foreign country, understanding Guyana’s history and all aspects of its culture.
In addition, to the above, during 2008-2013, the Guyana Chapter collaborated with Partners of the Americas Inc. (HQ) on the implementation of the Farmer to Farmer 2008-2013 program.
In 2017, Guyana was again honoured and fortunate to be one of five countries included in the Education Abroad Program of the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB). The other countries were China, Ghana, Mexico and Dominican Republic. Three female UAPB students, Ms. Imani Coleman, a sophomore majoring in Agronomy, Ms. LaTaylor Rembert, a sophomore majoring in Agriculture Business and Ms. Laura Wright, a sophomore majoring in Animal Science, spent one month (July 8th – August 5th) in Guyana. They were accompanied by Program Coordinator, Ms. Kacy Wright, UAPB PhD student and Guyanese born Assistant Program Coordinator, UAPB MSc student, Mr. Ryan Nedd.
In both years, the students spent their time in Guyana learning about agriculture in Guyana but also learning generally about life in a foreign country, understanding Guyana’s history and all aspects of its culture.
In addition, to the above, during 2008-2013, the Guyana Chapter collaborated with Partners of the Americas Inc. (HQ) on the implementation of the Farmer to Farmer 2008-2013 program.
Farmer to Farmer program 2008-2013
The 2008-2013 F2F Program in Guyana was comprised of two country projects: Horticulture and Diversified Rural Enterprises. Guyana had 101 assignments over the 5 year program, filled by 80 individual volunteers representing 27 US states.
Assignment topics included: shadehouse development and operation; sustainable agriculture; product development and marketing; and pest management, horticulture therapy, livestock management, beekeeping and organizational development.
In Guyana we also worked with local hosts to develop a series of videos that provide training and technical information on topics ranging from controlling the Carambola Fruit Fly to setting up a shadehouse.
Assignment topics included: shadehouse development and operation; sustainable agriculture; product development and marketing; and pest management, horticulture therapy, livestock management, beekeeping and organizational development.
In Guyana we also worked with local hosts to develop a series of videos that provide training and technical information on topics ranging from controlling the Carambola Fruit Fly to setting up a shadehouse.