By: Jayda Juene | HGP Nightly News |
The Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) continues to play a vital role in supporting the country’s agriculture sector, ensuring that products — from the farm to the consumer’s table — meet quality and safety benchmarks for both local and regional markets.
According to Lloyd David, Head of Corporate Communications at the GNBS, the Bureau’s work extends across the entire agricultural value chain, providing technical guidance, standard development, and certification to farmers and agro-processors.
“The GNBS has several roles to play in ensuring that the sector is successful,” David explained, noting that standards help promote best practices in farming, production, and food processing.
He highlighted that the Bureau currently maintains a wide range of standards governing the grading and handling of local produce such as tomatoes, pineapples, cucumbers, and pears, as well as processed products including fruit juices, jams, and jellies.
These standards, David said, not only help farmers manage their operations more efficiently but also ensure that their products meet regional export requirements under CARICOM’s trade framework.
“By following these standards, farmers can produce goods that meet both local and regional requirements, opening opportunities for export within the CARICOM region,” he stated.
David illustrated that proper handling and transportation practices—such as maintaining required temperatures for milk or preventing damage to fresh fruits—are crucial for maintaining product quality and consumer safety.
“For example, milk has to be transported at a certain temperature to remain wholesome, and fruits must be handled carefully to avoid damage during transport,” he added.
He further noted that several of Guyana’s national agricultural standards are recognized as CARICOM standards, giving compliant producers easier access to markets in countries like Trinidad and Tobago and Barbados.
Farmers and agro-processors can access these standards online through the GNBS Standards Portal at www.gnbsgy.com, where they can search by product name, review standard details, and purchase copies directly.
David reaffirmed the GNBS’s commitment to empowering Guyana’s agri-sector through standardization, helping producers improve product quality, export readiness, and competitiveness.
“Standards help farmers practice good management systems in their farming, allowing them to produce quality goods that can stand alongside international competitors,” he said.
