potential giahs sites and systems in guyana
TRANSCRIPT
Guyana, situated on the North-Eastern Coast of South America, covers an area of approximately 214,000 km2 and lies between 10 10´ and 80 32´ North latitudes and 560 30´ and 610 20´ west longitudes. Guyana is bordered by Surinam on the East, Brazil on the South and West, Venezuela on the West and a 240 km coastline of the Atlantic Ocean on the North
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GUYANA-At a Glance
90% of the country’s population
(Approx745,000) occupy the long,
narrow low-lying coastal strip; less than
10% of the total land mass and more
than 80% of commercial Agriculture.
Guyanese: ingrained social culture of co-existence with Agriculture
Mar 20, 2013 3
GUYANA-Agro-economic Activity
Successful Gov’t Policies ensure Food Security for all
and Net Food Exporter
Agriculture: Sustainable Livelihood for 20% of GDP
and 40% of Export Earnings
Agriculture Foundation: Government Policies
FOUR Nationally Important AHS
1. Traditional Homestead
Cultivation: All homes
Home to more than 80% diversity of PGRFA-mainly from discarded remnant of obsolete varieties In this heart of Georgetown, the rows are decorated with 21 food and herbal plant varieties and 12 ornamental species (2012-Guyana).
At any one point ‘food energy reserves’ from homestead PGRFA Diversity is capable of sustaining 50% of population for 2 months
Coastal flooding may not be a
serious to PGRFA diversity.
FOUR National Important AHS
2. ‘Bastard’ Coconut Plantations: Lower Pomeroon River Approx (approx. 1600 ha)
A naturally out-crossing Tall X Green Dwarf) coconut cultivation system-the major commercial cultivation area of Guyana
Coconut diversity is Unique-estimated 50% of plant population could survive LYD (COGENT 1997; CIB, Jamaica, 2010)
Red Palm Mite currently a serious threat to coconut country-wide.
Heterogenous 'Bastard Coconut' palm on-
farm in the Lower Pomeroon River,
Essequibo, Region 2 (2006-Guyana)
FOUR National Important AHS
3. Swamp Eddo Farms: Soesdyke-Linden White Sand Area (approx. 150 ha)
Within system of major Poultry Production
Only Sustainable, Largest Pro-organic, eco-friendly commercial agricultural system in Country
The most profitable field crop production business.
Least scientifically studied, documented.
No serious threat and scope for commercial expansion.
Swamp Eddo farm at Kuru kururu, Soesdyke-
Linden Highway, Guyana-June 2010
FOUR National Important AHS
4. Hinterland Subsistence Cassava Cultivation in 156 Amerindian Villages/Communities- Spread in all ecologies in Country
Research and Extension Staffers discuss with farmer on-farm storage of harvested stem cuttings of cassava at St Ignatius Village, Central Rupununi (2009-Guyana)
Hinterland Subsistence Cassava Cultivation Art developed over millennia
All landrace varietal diversity
Populations highly
heterogeneous
Mixture of varieties
cultivated
Varieties are constantly added
and sourced mainly from
nearby villages
Production is continuous
Significant on-farm varietal
diversity generated through
natural cross pollination and
seedling regeneration from
dispersed seeds on-farm.
Subsistence nature of
cultivation sustains a great
reservoir of genetic
diversity
Across Hinterland communities 1000’s of genotypes are predicted
Hinterland Subsistence Cassava Cultivation Studies (Elias et al., 2002)
conducted in one Amerindian
Village (Rewa, Central
Guyana) identified 76
varieties from 24 homesteads
Results of DNA molecular
analysis suggest that genetic
diversity in this single village
was comparable to the core
collection of CIAT’s
There are 156 recognized
Amerindian Villages and
communities countrywide.
Recent extended periods of
hinterland floods and
droughts threatens diversity
and subsistence food
supplies.
Saving ‘seed cuttings’ is a
challenge.
Hinterland Subsistence Cassava Cultivation
Hinterland Subsistence Cassava Cultivation
Germplasm Exchange
Guyana’s PGRFA diversity is
poorly represented in National
and International genebanks.
Export to CIAT (2012)-First
Officially Documented
consignments
Hinterland Subsistence Cassava Cultivation and ‘Bastard’ Coconut Plantations are Guyana’s NIAHS exemplified by their traditional use of significant agricultural biodiversity and should be recognized as a heritage of human kind. The traditions associated with Homestead PGRFA diversity and Swamp-eddo farms represent the most eco-friendly in situ conservation efforts and warrants global recognition and assistance. Mar 20, 2013 14
GUYANA’s NIAHS- A Heritage of Human Kind