IICA and Ministry of Agriculture of Antigua and Barbuda Sign Agreement for Critical Development

St. Johns, Antigua, September 6, 2011. The Minister of Agriculture, Lands, Housing and Environment, Hilson Baptiste, and the Director General of the Inter –American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), Victor M. Villalobos, signed on Monday an agreement signaling avenues for further support in the areas of Science, Technology, Building Technical Capacity and Human Resource Development.

Villalobos detailed, during a press conference held at the Ministry of Agriculture Headquarters, the strategic agreement that will be mutually beneficial, calling for the implementation of joint actions related to agriculture development in four critical areas.

These principles include building technical capacity at Masters & PhD Levels through scholarships from the Center for Research and Advanced Studies (CINVESTAV) of Mexico, access to germplasm for roots and tubers (including sweet potato, cassava and white potato), genetic improvement of small ruminants and enhancement of communication between IICA and the Ministry, as well as develop proposal for improvement of technology to enhance communication exchange in extension services.

Minister Baptiste stated the importance to create partnerships while strengthening aspects of agri-business and post harvesting capacities at the national level with a view to ensuring food security.

Regarding the area of research, Villalobos said that the Institute is currently exploring new types of cooperation with four international centers, the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT); the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT); the International Potato Center (CIP), and the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).

The Director General of IICA also mentioned that the Institute is working with these international centers in the draft of a work program, which includes the integration of producers and markets, roots and tubers, corn, and climate change. The institute expects to present a coordination agreement at the hemispheric meeting of ministers of agriculture next month in Costa Rica.

Meanwhile, during his courtesy visit to the Ministry of Agriculture, Lands, Housing and Environment, Villalobos held brief meetings with the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, Sharon Peters, and the Director of Agriculture, Jedidiah Maxime.

The Director General reaffirmed IICA’s commitment and highlighted key priorities of the Institute’s Regional Strategy 2010-2014, in support of Antigua and Barbuda efforts to reach its Millennium Development Goals.

Villalobos arrived to Antigua and Barbuda on Sunday, with an official team including the Director of Regional Management and Integration, Victor Del Angel, the Secretary of Planning and Evaluation, Dowlat Budhram, and the Representative for Eastern Caribbean States, Una May Gordon.

The delegation, shortly after their arrival on Sunday participated in a field tour to the various agricultural stations.

The Director General of IICA, as part of his visit, also pays courtesy visit to the Prime Minister, Baldwin Spencer, and the Director of Organization of American States, Jean Ricot Dormeus.

For more information, contact: 
victor.delangel@iica.int