Comprehensive studies needed on wheat varieties before production decision - Plant Pathologist Dr. Pierce Paul
Guyana’s chances of becoming a successful wheat producing country are dependent on a number of factors including identifying the right wheat variety and adaptability to local climatic conditions.
These caveats were entered by Professor Pierce Paul, Plant Pathologist with over 25 years of experience at the Ohio State University, in his presentation at the Agri-Investment Forum and Expo at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre at Liliendaal. Describing some of the complexities in wheat cultivation, Professor Paul said that it is pivotal that the right variety be selected for the success of wheat crop production. Paul noted that not all wheat grains are equal and if farmers will be looking at commercial wheat production as a country or a region, they must understand that a single wheat grain will not give the output for a specific product.
“The type of wheat we do produce will dictate what type of product you can make from that wheat. All wheat can be used to make flour but what you can use the wheat for will depend on the type of wheat that you produce. These types of wheat brans vary in their protein content. They vary in that gluten strain. And these are important traits and important characteristics to determine what type of flour will give what type of products you can purchase,” he explained.
Addressing the matter of local climatic conditions, Dr. Paul highlighted two key considerations. The first is that an understanding of Guyana’s climatic conditions will determine the potential variety of wheat that can thrive here. Wheat does well under conditions where nights are cooler as opposed to the hot dry day, he said. This is a critical point, according to Paul, since if Guyana is not able to cultivate multiple varieties, it must be able to alternatively identify suitable varieties that can be used to create a mixture for product manufacturing. Secondly, Professor Paul stressed that focus must also be placed on basic agronomic practices, such as nitrogen application programmes and pest and diseases control.
“With Guyana being a hot humid country, pests and diseases are likely to impact the wheat quality if you don’t have the systems in place to effectively manage and reduce some of those concerns,” he pointed out. He stated that finding varieties that are resistant to pests and diseases in the trial phase are excellent indicators for cultivation as the first step. Professor Paul praised the country for moving away from traditional crops and looking at new ones. He said “I commend the group that’s working on raising wheat in Guyana… it’s a step in the right direction towards food security and self-sufficiency. It is good to see this age old concept of food security and self-sufficiency resurface again.” He went on to state that while Guyana is in its trial phase, the research being undertaken on over 30 varieties will determine an understanding of which varieties are the best to adapt to Guyana climatic conditions.
He stated that apart from the climatic conditions and variety complexities, there must be investment in training and purchasing of machinery to advance the sector and make it successful. In this regard, he stated that the country will have to look at incentivizing production and investments to allow them to become competitive on the world market.
“We need to be able to train these guys to learn, to understand on how to raise wheat, so we need a support system of extension and research,” Professor Paul said as he touched on the importance and the need for people with knowledge in the field that is fairly new to this part of the region. He extended his support in utilizing his knowledge to help with the industry and recommended further that there be investment in research and extension to provide expertise, advice and training for wheat farmers. Tying in the vision of reducing the regional imports of food of 25% by 2025, Professor Paul said that once the major part of the research can be completed for the sector they can begin to look at models in which they can start large scale cultivation.
“For example, if we know what growing conditions favours the wheat crop production, we can look at where we can use simulation modeling and where will be best adapted to Guyana. And if we do those simulation modeling, it can be used to help inform the strategies of awareness. We should try to see how the wheat grows. We can learn from countries that are competing producers; we can send folks over to train growers and teach them how to grow wheat… these are some short term strategies that are going to help us to make progress,” he underscored.
Promising results
Last month Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha, disclosed that the trials undertaken by local scientist, Dr Mahendra Persaud, at the Burma Rice Research Station in Region Five have so far shown promising results. Mustapha stated that those results encouraged government
to expand its wheat production trials at two locations across Guyana.
“So what he will do, he will come out in open fields to start that trial there and we are looking also at some certain areas,” Mustapha said last month whilst pointing out that one trial phase will be done on two to three acres at the Burma Rice Research Station and in Paramakatoi in Region Eight. The climate conditions in Region Eight, he noted, seem to be perfect for production of the crop. “You know, in Paramakatoi, time like now [13:00hrs] in the day, the place is still foggy and cold, so that is an area we have to look at because… wheat grows in temperate areas. There are possibilities in different parts of the country where we can have nurseries to see where it will grow better. All those things are under consideration,” Mustapha had previously explained. “This is a new crop for our country and we are looking at certain areas, so what the scientist told me, Dr Mahendra Persaud told me he started some at the rice research station and the prospect looks very good in the very small amount,” the Agriculture Minister explained before stating that there are possibly some 49 varieties of wheat that have the potential to be successful here.
The exploration of local wheat production was first announced by President Irfaan Ali during the initial phase of the Russia/Ukraine conflict that resulted in worldwide shortages of wheat on the market. Further, the possibilities of wheat production in Guyana was also looked at as a possible strategy to curb the impacts of shortages and escalating prices. “Soon we are going to work to see whether we can find a variety of wheat that we can plant in Guyana, so that we can fulfill even our local requirement. We are learning important lessons now that we must not leave unanswered for future generations,” President Ali had said. With the recent skyrocketing prices for wheat coupled with other supply challenges, the National Milling Company (Namilco) last month announced a 15% increase in the price of flour.