While at IICA, Minister of Agriculture of Barbados reviewed agricultural challenges of his country

San Jose, Costa Rica, May 11, 2011, (IICA). According to David Estwick, Minister of Agriculture, Food, Fisheries, Industry and Small Business Development of Barbados, finding a way to ensure that cooperation goes beyond regional fora and actually reaches their framers, and supporting the modernization of agricultural sector institutions, are two of the most important objectives of the relationship between IICA and Barbados.

On May 9-10, Minister Estwick visited the Headquarters of the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), where he met with the managers of several of its technical cooperation programs and participated in a field trip to observe sustainable agro-eco-tourism, agroenergy and fertilizer production systems. 

On his visit to Headquarters, Estwick was accompanied by Deputy Minister Ralph Farnum. The visit was organized by IICA’s Hemispheric Center for Leadership in Agriculture, under its Forum for Leaders in Agriculture program.

He is the fourteenth minister or secretary of agriculture to participate in these official visits, said Hernan Chiriboga, Coordinator of the Center.

During his meeting with the managers, Minister Estwick stated it was necessary to “change the reality” in some Caribbean states, which are in need of technological tools that will ensure that innovation reaches farmers and contribute to making them more competitive.

He also indicated that there is room for improvement in the way agricultural institutions in Barbados operate the sector, and asked the IICA authorities for assistance in modernizing them and enabling them to respond more effectively to the needs of the sector.

According to James French, Director of Technical Cooperation, the IICA 2012-2014 Medium-term Plan calls for strengthening the technical cooperation provided in the Caribbean, since it is clear that global situations, such a climate change and the need to gain a foothold in external markets, make it necessary for agriculture to become more competitive.

For his part, the Director of Management and Regional Integration, Victor del Ángel, explained to Minister Estwick that the Institute only implements actions in its 34 Member States with the approval of the corresponding minister of agriculture.

Practical examples

On the second day of their visit to Costa Rica, Estwick and Farnum observed first hand the benefits of organic farming on the La Esperanza Farm.

Eighteen years ago, this small this small-scale agribusiness switched from traditional to more sustainable agricultural practices. On some six hectares of land, cattle, goats, hogs and poultry are raised and vegetables grown. Its food products, organic fertilizer, energy from methane gas, and other products for sale make the farm almost self-sufficient.

To demonstrate the sustainable methods it applies and to earn additional income, La Esperanza also engages in agro-eco-tourism. “I am taking a lot of ideas back with me to Barbados, where many farmers work plots approximately this size, using chemical fertilizers,” said Estwick.

The minister and deputy minister were also able to observe greenhouse techniques when they visited the Agricultores Cartagineses CyC Company, where tomato plants are protected from rain, wind and ultraviolet rays with low-cost reusable materials.

At the Almácigos San Isidro Company, the visitors witnessed how, via the controlled and protected planting of seeds in greenhouses, it is also possible to provide farmers with crops that are more pest-resistant which will make their farms more productive.

On this farm, certified lettuce, tomato, green onion, sweet pepper, broccoli and other seeds are planted in organic soil that has been sterilized with hulled rice, sugar cane bagasse and steam. The resulting plantlets are then delivered to farmers who have ordered them.

According to Estwick and Farnum, Barbados, given its geographic location, is very susceptible to severe weather that can affect their plantations. Both felt that what they had observed in Costa Rica could have practical applications in their country.

The visit concluded with a meeting with Victor M. Villalobos, Director General of IICA, to discuss topics related to cooperation, which would be provided by the IICA Office in Barbados.

For more information, contact
hernan.chiriboga@iica.int
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