September 29, 2013 – October 3, 2013, Havana,

Cuba

LAUNCH OF THE GLOBAL SOIL PARTNERSHIP IN CENTRAL AMERICA

AND THE CARIBBEAN

STATUS, PRIORITIES AND NEEDS FOR SUSTAINABLE SOIL

MANAGEMENT IN GUYANA

Dr. Oudho Homenauth,Chief Executive Officer,National Agricultural Research & Extension Institute,Ministry of Agriculture,Guyana.

September 30, 2013

Map of Guyana

With Physiographic Regions

Area: 214,970 km2

90-95% of population lives within the coastal

belt of 8,000 km

Coastal Plain

Hilly Sand and Clay Region

Highland Region

Interior Savannahs

•Area – 214, 970 km2 (19.7 million hectare)

•Forested – 16 million hectare ( ~80%)

•Permanent Pasture – 1.2 million hectare

•Agricultural lands – 1.7 million hectare

•Arable – 0.5 million hectare

•~30-35% cultivated

•About 25% of arable land is irrigated

(115,000 ha)

Agriculture in Guyana

Backbone of Agriculture Economy

Contribute 30% to GDP (~45% of total export earnings)

70% of the population employed directly in agriculture and in

related activities

Sugar – 67,000 hectare

Rice – 80,000 ha (double cropped)

Coconut – 25,000 ha

Fruits and vegetables ~ 20,000 ha

In Guyana, we recognise that the sustainable management of

agricultural soils is necessary to enhance food and nutrition

security as well as meet the food demands of present and future

generation.

Essential for the long-term sustainability & commercial viability

of agriculture.

Climate change (excessive rainfall and

drought and sea level rise)

Low PH

Low soil fertility

Need for more mechanisation

(dwindling labour force)

High costs of inputs (lime and fertilizer)

Yield potentials not being realised

Main Challenges to Agriculture

Soil Management Strategies being

Utilised/Promoted

Flooded Rice Cultivation

Upland Rice Production

Crop Rotation ( Rice & Beans, Legumes

and Other Vegetables)

Liming

Mulching

Use of Organic Manures

Cow manure (far left), chicken litter (middle pile) and leaf

litter (far right) collected on site prior to establishing

composting piles.

Homogenizing mix 1 containing leaf, chips, and chicken litter.

Pineapple farm site prepared using slash and burn - notice

burnt tree stumps and char/ash on the ground. Captain Yvonne

Pearson in picture.

Shaded Cultivation

Micro-irrigation

Flood fallowing (Sugar) – improves physical properties and

fertility status of soils

Reclamation of more soilsAcacia and pasture grass on Mine-spoils

Mangrove Restoration

Over Topping

January 2011 – Site prior to planting

October 2012 - 22 months after planting

Site Reference R4-CMS-M001-000-JAN-2011

Location Chateau Margot/Success, East Coast Demerara

Region Region #4

Species Planted Avicennia germinas (Black mangroves)

Total seedlings planted 20,529

Planting Date (date commenced)

16 December 2010

Length of seashore planted 284 m (841m protected due to natural regeneration)

Survival 85% (extensive natural regeneration)

Depth planted 60 m

September 2013- 33 months after planting

After Construction December 2012

July 2013 - 6 Months after construction

Spartina grass plated to support natural regeneration

Site Reference R4-VIC-M001-000-DEC-2012

Location Victoria, East Coast Demerara

Region Region #4

Structure Geotextile Breakwater

Length 100m (2 50m structures)Diameter 2.5m; Height 2m

Purpose Designed to reduce wave energy

Expected results Reduction in wave energy and accretion of sediments in the area of foreshore between the breakwaters and existing sea defence structure. Subsequent re-establishment of mangroves

Length of shoreline protected

216m

Project Status Completed December 2012

August 2013 – 8 months after construction

PRIORITIES AND NEEDS FOR SUSTAINABLE

MANAGEMENT

Development of Integrated Nutrient Management Systems.

Detailed soil mapping and soil physical and chemical analyses –

updating land capability classification and soil database

Use of GIS technologies and satellite imagery

Emphasis should be placed on the use of micronutrients

Use of biochar on low fertility soils

Use of agroforestry systems in low fertility soils

Development of appropriate land use strategies for fragile soils.

Development of a rational basis for fertilizers using/soil and/or plant chemical tests. This should include studies on technology packages of added fertilizer.

Examination of the role of irrigation for continuous crop production.

Studies should be conducted on the amelioration of adverse soil physical conditions, periodic deep tillage may be used to loosen compact subsoils; refinement in tillage requirements and techniques including minimum/zero tillage should be investigated.

Thank You!

End of Presentation…