IICA participates in Panel Discussion on “Climate is Changing: Agriculture must too”
The IICA Delegation in Guyana continues to support the development of agriculture in Guyana. In collaboration with the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA), Conservation International (CI), and the International Centre for Rainforest Conservation (IWOKARAMA). The delegation was represented by Mr. Arnold De Mendonca, Sustainable Rural Development Specialist who participated in the panel discussion on the theme of World Food Day 2016: “Climate is Changing; Agriculture Must Too”.
Mr. De Mendonca’s presentation addressed the impacts of climate change with respect to the entrepreneur and agro-entrepreneurship. In targeting an audience of mainly students from the Guyana School of Agriculture (GSA) emphasis was placed on the following areas; existing agricultural business opportunities in Guyana which can help agricultural production to be more resilient to climate change. He also offered information of current actions being implemented to take advantage of these opportunities while offering suggestions on what else needs to be done. In closing he mentioned a number of ways in which more youths can be attracted to or engaged in agricultural development. Suggestions related to the provision and improving the methodology of teaching agriculture in schools, teaching it as a business outlining the rewards while removing the drudgery associated with the discipline. He posited on giving students more exposure on field trips, internships, use of innovative technology, and the use of ICTs appropriate to agricultural production.
Other members of the panel were; Mr. Rene Edwards from Conservation International Guyana, Dr. Patrick Chesney of UNDP, Ms. Ingrid Peters from the Fisheries Department of the Ministry of Agriculture, Mr. George Jervis, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Mr. Rueben Robertson FAO Representative in Guyana; the discussion was moderated by Ms. Angela Johnson of NCN while Ms. Vanessa Benn from IWOKARAMA offered the vote of thanks.
The panel discussion was held in the Plant Science Building of the Guyana School of Agriculture, Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara on the evening of Thursday, October 20, 2016.
More information: arnold.demendonca@iica.int