Latest update March 28th, 2024 12:59 AM
Oct 01, 2022 News
==GNBS IN FOCUS==
Kaieteur News – 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 the 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, not only to develop National Standards which ensure good practices and conformance to quality, but to 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 respectively identity and consume quality agriculture produce. Other agriculture standards available at the GNBS include those for poultry meats and eggs, coconut water, milk, rice, sugar, and fertilisers.
For agro-processing, there are standards for jams and jellies, coconut oil, salted fish, spices, achar and more, which processors can utilise. These standards cover labelling, packaging, storage, hygiene, and sanitation requirements for products, and offer the requisite guidelines and specification to ensure agriculture 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 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 opened to applications from all producers of local products regardless of operation size or product type.
Regarding GNBS trainings, 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.
Trainings offered to those in the sector include 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 towards helping farm owners optimize business operations while minimising production costs and environmental impacts.
The Bureau also provides training on the ISO 22000:2018 Standard: A Food Safety Management System – Requirements for any organisation 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 health produce from the farm to the fork.
Lastly, as the National Measurement Institution, the Bureau continuous 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.
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Mar 28, 2024
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