President of Guyana welcomes the Director General of IICA
Guyana, September 8, 2010 (IICA). During an official visit to Guyana, the Director General of the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), Victor M. Villalobos, was welcomed by President Bharrat Jagdeo, to discuss strategic areas in which the Institute will focus its technical assistance.
Adaptation to climate change, technical support for the agricultural sector and efforts to increase food security were the priorities pinpointed by President Jagdeo, with a view to promoting sustainable and competitive agriculture.
The meeting took place within the framework of a regional meeting organized by the Institute to discuss the new guidelines for technical cooperation, as well as the strategies and projects to be implemented in the Caribbean in coming years.
The meeting, which will conclude on September 10, is being attended by the Director General, the Deputy Director General, the Representatives and Regional Specialists of IICA’s Caribbean Region and high-level staff from Institute Headquarters. The Minister of Agriculture of Guyana, Robert Persaud, and a representative of Edwin Carrington, the Secretary General of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), participated in the inaugural session.
During the meeting with President Jagdeo, he asked for IICA’s support in applying measures aimed at adapting to and mitigating the effects of climate change, and in continuing the implementation of the development strategy based on low levels of carbon emissions. Furthermore, he suggested that IICA engage in more field work to promote agricultural practices that will guarantee food security for hinterland communities.
The President requested that IICA work with the Ministry of Agriculture to increase agricultural production in his country, taking into consideration the possibilities that exist for promoting the cacao processing industry and the beekeeping sector.
Secretary General Edwin Carrington requested IICA’s assistance in putting into operation the Caribbean Agricultural Health and Food Safety Agency (CAHFSA), and its continued support of the Caribbean Week of Agriculture.
The Director General pledged to provide support in these areas, offering to seek the assistance of experts from other countries with knowledgeable of agriculture in Guyana. He also urged President Jagdeo to continue to play a leading role in the development of agriculture in the Caribbean.
The discussions of this, the first regional meeting held under the new administration, focused on the 2010-2020 Strategic Plan and the 2010-2014 Medium-term Plan, as well as the new focus of IICA’s technical cooperation in the coming years.
Of particular interest for the region will be the presentation of the IICA’s Strategy for Agricultural Development in the Caribbean and the Strategic Plan of Action for Food and Nutritional Security in the Caribbean.
According to Ignatius Jean, IICA Representative in Guyana, “This meeting will afford us an opportunity to interchange ideas and improve the proposals and the implementation of the plans and the strategy for the Caribbean.”
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