Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture

Agriculture Family farming

The Government of Paraguay and IICA intensify efforts to diversify agricultural production in the country

Tiempo de lectura: 3 mins.

In Asunción, the hemispheric organization presented a proposal to Denis Lichi, the Minister of Agriculture and Livestock, on developing the banana sector as a means of bolstering the income of family farmers.

Denis Lichi, Minister of Agriculture and Livestock of Paraguay, and Manuel Otero, Director General of IICA.

Asunción, 15 March 2019 (IICA). The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock of Paraguay and the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture agreed to ramp up joint actions to achieve greater production diversification in Paraguay’s agriculture sector, focusing on increasing the level of support given to family farmers in the country.

The decision arose out of a meeting between Denis Lichi, Minister of Agriculture and Livestock of Paraguay, and Manuel Otero, the Director General of IICA, who was on a working visit to Asunción. Otero pointed out the great extent to which the agendas of President Mario Abdo Benítez’s Government and the hemispheric agency specializing in agricultural and rural development coincide with each other.

Otero remarked that, “The meeting was extremely productive: we strengthened ties, reaffirmed our willingness to work together; and recognized the extensive similarities in our agendas regarding the issues on which we will be working. The Minister proposes to strengthen institutions in the agriculture sector and to improve family farming-related policies, with particular emphasis on extension services, which is one of the bottlenecks to technology and knowledge transfer to this vital area of the country’s agriculture sector. IICA stands to play a critical role in this agenda”.

In keeping with plans to boost the income-generation capabilities of family farmers, IICA presented Minister Lichi with a proposal to develop the banana sector, which has tremendous potential to supply both domestic and international markets.

According to Otero, “Paraguay can and should be a major player in the fruit production sector, given its great potential.  The country is aiming to follow in the footsteps of other countries, for example, Ecuador and Costa Rica, since it needs to and is attempting to diversify its basket of exportable agricultural goods, without adversely affecting the domestic market”.

The Director General of IICA also met with the Minister of the National Emergency Secretariat of Paraguay, Joaquín Roa Burgos, with whom he discussed the possibility of establishing linkages for joint management of risks, such as floods or droughts.

“I foresee more and better projects for Paraguay”, said Otero, reflecting on his visit to the South American country.

During his visit to Asunción, IICA’s Director General also met with the National Director of Itaipu Binacional Paraguay, José Alberto Alderete, discussing possible new partnerships for the benefit of family farmers.

Coordinator for IICA’s Southern Region, Caio Rocha, and the Institute’s Representative in Paraguay, Ricardo Orellana, also participated in Otero’s working meetings in that country.

 

More information: 

Institutional Communication Division

comunicación.institucional@iica.int

 

Share

Related news​

Brasilia, Brasil

October 17, 2025

Macarena Valdés and Marco Aceituno, small-scale Chilean producers who have thrived under challenging conditions, will take part in the Conference of Ministers of Agriculture of the Americas in Brasília

Macarena Valdés and Marco Aceituno, creators of a farm where food production has flourished despite the severe drought that has afflicted Chile in recent years, will be among the speakers at the Conference of Ministers of Agriculture of the Americas 2025, to be held from November 3 to 5 in Brasília.

Tiempo de lectura: 3mins

El Director General del IICA, Manuel Otero, destacó que la decisión del Banco Mundial de duplicar sus inversiones en el sector agropecuario refuerza la importancia de los pequeños agricultores y reconoce el papel de América Latina y el Caribe en la seguridad alimentaria global.

San Jose, Costa Rica

October 16, 2025

IICA Director General  welcomes World Bank’s decision to double its investments to strengthen the role of small-scale farmers and expresses willingness to work together in Latin America and the Caribbean

Otero stated that IICA stands ready to assist the World Bank in helping small-scale farmers to increase their productivity, scale up and connect to value chains that can increase their income. To that end, IICA will tap into its broad experience in the region, where it works together with various strategic partners from the public and private sectors.

Tiempo de lectura: 3mins

San José, Costa Rica

October 15, 2025

Hemispheric dialogue at IICA identifies effective governance, strategic public spending and innovative green funding as key elements to strengthen regional agrifood systems

During a hemispheric dialogue held at the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), government leaders, representatives of international agencies and regional agrifood sector experts agreed on roadmaps for strengthening institutional frameworks and coordinating public policies in Latin American and Caribbean countries.

Tiempo de lectura: 3mins