22 schools showcase innovations at national agri-value competition

Twenty-two secondary schools are showcasing innovative ways of transforming locally grown crops into marketable products as the Ministry of Education promotes practical agricultural education and entrepreneurship among students.

The schools are participating in the student-led Value Addition Symposium and National Competition 2026, hosted by the ministry’s Secondary Sector through its Agricultural Science Unit at the Royal International Hotel Conference Hall.

Chief Planning Officer of the Ministry of Education Mischka White-Griffith said the initiative demonstrates how education can be applied practically while exposing students to opportunities within the agricultural sector.

“I’m excited because this programme makes education very practical,” White-Griffith said, noting that agricultural science extends beyond planting crops to include science, processing, mathematics and marketing.

White-Griffith encouraged students to recognise the wider opportunities within agriculture, particularly in transforming locally produced crops into value-added products and developing businesses.

The chief planning officer also challenged students to look beyond the classroom and consider entrepreneurship as a viable career path, noting that the skills acquired through the initiative could help them establish businesses, supply local markets and explore export opportunities even as the Guyana Development Bank comes on stream.

Chief Executive Officer of the Ministry of Education, Saddam Hussain, also commended the students and teachers, emphasising the importance of integrating agricultural production with other subject areas to strengthen practical learning.

Hussain highlighted the potential for schools to connect agricultural science with business, economics and marketing, allowing students to gain experience in producing and selling goods.

The CEO also indicated that the ministry expects secondary schools to demonstrate how resources allocated for agricultural activities are being used, including the crops produced and the quantities harvested.

Six students are giving presentations, while all 22 participating schools display products for the national competition. Judges are assessing the students’ presentations, products, and previously submitted project booklets before the winners are announced.

The competition is being held under the theme, “From Farm to Market: Transforming Our Crops, Building Value, Creating Opportunities!” and aims to strengthen students’ knowledge of agro-processing, innovation and opportunities within the wider agricultural sector.