Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture

Food and nutrition security

Striving to rehabilitate agriculture following the volcano disaster, IICA coordinates another seed donation to St. Vincent and the Grenadines

Tiempo de lectura: 3 mins.

The first major eruption of La Soufriere Volcano was last April and since then there have been thirty-two others. Approximately 20,000 people were evacuated from their homes, most of whom were farmers, given that the lands adjoining the volcano are used primarily for agriculture.

Semillas2

San Jose, 26 November 2021 (IICA) – St. Vincent and the Grenadines received a new donation of seeds, this time from Bayer AG, in a drive to fuel the recovery of the country’s production sector following the volcano eruptions that since April have devastated agricultural production and left food security hanging in the balance.

Apart from the Bayer donation, the Caribbean nation received donations of various types of vegetable seeds from Argentina, Brazil and Chile, under the technical coordination of the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA).

The first major eruption of La Soufriere Volcano was last April and since then there have been thirty-two others. Approximately 20,000 people were evacuated from their homes, most of whom were farmers, given that the lands adjoining the volcano are used primarily for agriculture.

Speaking at the official handover ceremony, Saboto Caesar, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries, Rural Transformation, Industry and Labor of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, remarked that, “We are working assiduously to boost our production and increase productivity. We are grateful for all the contributions received just at the right time to enable our family farmers to reap significant benefits, thus reducing our food imports”.

Caesar explained that, “This donation will allow us to ensure the food supply for our people in the upcoming months and to continue on the path to a more resilient agriculture sector in 2022. These actions should be recognized as a gesture of solidarity that should be followed and I thank IICA, because a friend in need is a friend indeed”.

In addition to the Bayer AG donation, the Caribbean country received cantaloupe and watermelon seeds, as well as an assortment of vegetables seeds, namely lettuce, broccoli, Swiss chard, carrot, cucumber, corn and tomato, among others. These were supplied by the Argentinian Seed Producers’ Association (ASA) and Plantec de Chile, in coordination with the White Helmets Commission—an agency under Argentina’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs—and IICA.

White Helmets Vice-President, Mariana Galvani, remarked that, “The seeds will guarantee the recovery and continued functioning of agricultural production in this Caribbean nation”, and expressed a willingness to send a mission to provide technical support in areas such as water quality and the rehabilitation of livelihoods.

Data from the local Ministry of Agriculture reveals that the eruptions destroyed 100% of the country’s vegetable crops.

 “We believe situations like this one call for urgent and pointed actions to immediately assist those who are most in need and to support long-term actions that contribute to building a more competitive and efficient agriculture sector”, said IICA Director General, Manuel Otero.

He further added that, “We trust that these donations coupled with human support will provide a critical boost to offer relief to farmers and to strengthen the pivotal role of the Ministry of Agriculture in the recovery efforts”.

Alejandra Castro, Head of Legal, Patents and Compliance at Bayer AG, thanked IICA for serving as a bridge to facilitate the organization of the donations and for contributing to agriculture and rural development in the Americas.

In total, the value of the seeds donated to the Caribbean country was calculated to be about 300,000 dollars.

The seeds will support the rehabilitation of agriculture, which is key to food and nutritional security, given that the heaviest ashfall and most severe impact affected the part of the island devoted to production activity.

More information:

Institutional Communication Division

comunicacion.institucional@iica.int

 

Share

Related news​

San José, Costa Rica

June 5, 2025

At IICA, Costa Rican cacao producers are recognized for the excellence of their products and for their contribution to rural development and nutrition in the region

Experts analyzed 15 samples of cacao from various parts of the Central American country, with the five that received the highest scores then declared winners of the 2025 competition. The same five samples were sent to Rome, Italy, where they will represent Costa Rica in the international “Cacao of Excellence” competition, the stepping stone to the International Cocoa Awards.

Tiempo de lectura: 3mins

Turrialba, Costa Rica

June 3, 2025

On a study visit to Costa Rica, ministers of Agriculture, rural youth and women of the Eastern Caribbean were introduced to improved agricultural practices

The mission began with two days of activities at IICA Headquarters in San Jose, including meeting with the IICA Director General, Manuel Otero. The visitors then travelled to CATIE.

Tiempo de lectura: 3mins

San José, Costa Rica

June 2, 2025

Ibero-America sees biofuels as a solution to decarbonize the energy sector  

The annual meeting of the Ibero-American Association of Energy Regulators (ARIAE), held in San Jose and Guanacaste, Costa Rica, featured the II Entrepreneurial Forum, attracting 200 participants, including the Costa Rican Minister of Environment and Energy, the Executive Secretary of the Latin American Energy Organization (OLADE) and authorities of the Ibero-American General Secretariat (SEGIB); the XV Regular Annual Meeting of the ARIAE General Assembly, which was attended by 17 regulatory agencies of ARIAE; and the XXVI Annual Meeting of ARIAE Energy Regulators.

Tiempo de lectura: 3mins