Guyana participates in SSC fora in Brazil and Argentina
DPI, Guyana, Monday, March 12, 2018
Guyana is among Caribbean countries participating in a one week mission to Brazil and Argentina sponsored by the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA). The forum is aimed at promoting South-South Cooperation (SSC) in access to technology cooperation and trade diversification.
Guyana is being represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, George Jervis. The ministers and deputy ministers of agriculture of Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, St. Lucia, the Bahamas, Haiti, Jamaica, the Dominican Republic and Suriname are also slated for participation.
Others taking part in the mission include senior representatives of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) and the Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI).
The contributing Brazilian counterparts are Minister of Social Development, Osmar Terra, Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply, Blairo Maggi and President of the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (EMBRAPA), Maurício Antonio Lopes.
The ministers and deputy ministers are also on the cards for “South-South Cooperation/Brazil-Caribbean” event at the IICA Delegation in Brasilia today.
According to reports from IICA, the main purpose of the event is to facilitate access to new technologies and cooperation and diversify trade between nations that are vulnerable in terms of food security and the effects of climate change.
Recently elected Director-General, Manuel Otero stated “this mission in Brazil marks the fulfillment of a specific commitment I made at the start of my administration — that of making IICA an institution that serves as a bridge between countries, regions, international agencies and issues, developing a new solidarity within our continent. We are determined to ensure that the Americas cease to be the continent with the lowest levels of trade among its countries.”
The proceeding began with presentations by the Brazilian Ministers of State and the President of EMBRAPA, Maurício Lopes.
Tuesday will see the Caribbean ministers and representatives visiting a unit of EMBRAPA that operates a climate simulation chamber for the production of vegetables under different environmental conditions and a station where organic fertilizer is produced. They will then attend a lecture on good vegetable production practices for family farming.
The officials will also visit the Federal District’s Wholesale Produce Market (CEASA), where they will learn about a food procurement program, an example of a public policy for the purchase, distribution, and marketing of the agricultural production of family farmers.
The ministers’ activities in Brazil will conclude with meetings with the Minister of Social Development, the Director General of IICA and Brazilian parliamentary leaders involved in the agriculture sector.
The Caribbean delegates will travel to Argentina after Brazil, whih will complete their visits at the end of the week.
By: Clifford Stanley