One hundred and two students graduated from the Guyana School of Agriculture (GSA) today during the institution’s 61st Graduation Ceremony, with Agriculture Minister, Hon. Zulfikar Mustapha, reaffirming the Government’s commitment to strengthening agricultural education, expanding opportunities for young professionals and preparing a skilled workforce to support Guyana’s rapidly developing agriculture sector.
Delivering the feature address, Minister Mustapha commended the graduates on their achievements and underscored the important role the institution continues to play in developing the human resources needed to advance agricultural production, research, innovation and food security.
The Class of 2026 comprised 65 females and 37 males who completed studies across six programmes offered at the Mon Repos and Essequibo campuses. Of the 102 graduates, 66 earned either a Credit or Distinction, while ten students who were referred in 2025 successfully completed their programmes this year.
The graduating class represented nine of Guyana’s ten administrative regions, along with 12 students from CARICOM countries, including ten from Grenada and two from Saint Lucia. Two Grenadian nationals, Mr. Jacob Thomas and Ms. Adonis Jones, were also recognised among the year’s outstanding performers.
Reflecting on the institution’s contribution to national development, Minister Mustapha noted that the GSA has remained an important source of trained agricultural professionals since its establishment in 1963.
“For more than six decades, the Guyana School of Agriculture has played an important role in preparing men and women for service in agriculture and national development. Since its establishment in 1963, the institution has produced 4,497 graduates who have gone on to serve as farmers, extension officers, animal health professionals, foresters, agro-processors, researchers, and agricultural leaders,” the Minister said.
He explained that the institution’s expansion from its original agricultural programme to include Forestry, Fisheries, Agro-Processing, Animal Health and Veterinary Public Health, and Livestock Production and Management reflects the changing demands of the sector.
With advancements in technology, evolving consumer expectations, increasingly competitive markets and the effects of climate change, Minister Mustapha stressed that agricultural education must continue to adapt to ensure graduates are equipped with relevant technical knowledge, practical skills and innovative approaches.
“Our educational institutions must therefore continue to equip students with the knowledge, practical skills, and innovative thinking needed to respond to these developments,” he stated.
Minister Mustapha also highlighted the Government’s significant investments in agriculture under the leadership of President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, noting that the sector recorded growth of 11.5 percent in 2025, while budgetary allocations increased from $18.4 billion in 2020 to $113.2 billion in 2026.
He said these investments are supporting the modernisation of production systems, expansion of agricultural infrastructure, increased access to technology and the development of new opportunities in crop and livestock production, agro-processing and other areas of the sector.
Against this background, the Minister emphasised that institutions such as the GSA have an increasingly important responsibility to prepare graduates to participate meaningfully in Guyana’s agricultural transformation.
He welcomed the School’s successful re-registration with the National Accreditation Council of Guyana through 2029, describing the achievement as an important step in maintaining recognised educational standards and ensuring the continued relevance of its programmes.
Minister Mustapha also pointed to ongoing partnerships with the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) and EMC, which have supported training in hydroponics and protected agriculture. He noted that the introduction of digital farm record systems, collaboration with the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI), and continued training for farmers and extension officers are helping to strengthen the link between agricultural education, research and practical production.
Addressing the graduates, the Minister said the increasing participation of women in agricultural education was an encouraging development, particularly as the sector continues to offer a wider range of professional and entrepreneurial opportunities.
“Of the 102 graduates, 65 are women and 37 are men. This is a significant reflection of the changing face of agriculture in Guyana,” he said.
He urged young people to recognise that modern agriculture extends well beyond traditional farming and offers career opportunities in science, technology, business management, research, veterinary services, environmental management, logistics and marketing.
Minister Mustapha further highlighted the importance of providing young agricultural professionals with opportunities to establish their own enterprises, noting that financing available through the Guyana Development Bank could assist eligible young entrepreneurs in developing farms, agro-processing businesses and agricultural services.
“But access to education must be matched by access to opportunity. That is why the Government is also working to expand opportunities for young entrepreneurs,” he stated.
Among the outstanding graduates recognised during the ceremony was Ms. Analesia D’Aguiar, who received the Chairman’s Prize for being the best graduating student in the programmes offered at the Essequibo Campus. Ms. D’Aguiar completed the Certificate in Forestry programme with a GPA of 3.97, the highest recorded in the graduating class.
Mr. Marlon O’Donoghue received the Chief Executive Officer’s Prize for being the best graduating student in the two-year programmes offered at the Mon Repos Campus. He completed the Diploma in Agriculture programme with a GPA of 3.71.
The Guyana School of Agriculture commenced operations on September 9, 1963, at Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara, and has since developed into a key institution for agricultural training, producing graduates who continue to contribute to Guyana’s agricultural development and the wider Caribbean.
