MANAGING A FRAGILE ECOSYSTEM FOR SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION

The Intermediate Savannahs of Guyana are inhabited by resource poor fanners who lack physical and social infrastructural support. Added to this are problems of land tenure, credit and marketing and unfavourable agricultural policies. Farmers, therefore, are reluctant to adopt new technologies that demand high levels of resources. The Intermediate Savannahs have about 59,000' ha of acid, nutrient deficient sandy soils that with expert management and appropriate technologies can provide good yields of cereals, grain legumes and pasture forages. Research over the past twenty years coupled with experience from attempts at large agricultural enterprises indicate that a holistic and integrated approach to farming is necessary in such a fragile ecosystem. The Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI) in collaboration with the Guyana National Agricultural Research Institute (NARI) has recommended improved technological packages or systems for crop and livestock production. Sustainablility indicators show that although the packages contain some technologically sound practices, other factors1 such as socio-economics and policies that are external to the Intermediate Savannahs are important. Further research in various priority technical areas is recommended so as to improve the sustainability aspects of the systems