GUYANA is among several Caribbean countries participating in a one-week mission to Brazil and Argentina sponsored by the Inter-American Institute for Co-operation on Agriculture (IICA), and aimed at promoting a South South Co-operation (SSC) in areas of technology cooperation and trade diversification.

According to an IICA release, the delegation of ministers and deputy ministers of agriculture of various Caribbean countries participating in the event in Brazilia, under the theme “South-South Cooperation/Brazil-Caribbean”, are part of a mission led by IICA’s Director General of IICA, Manuel Otero. The forum began on March 12.

The ministers and deputy ministers of agriculture of Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, St. Lucia, The Bahamas, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, the Dominican Republic and Suriname are participating.

Others in the Region who are part of the mission include senior representatives of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) and the Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI). Guyana is represented by Mr. George Jervis.

The participating Brazilian counterparts are from the ministries of social development, Osmar Terra; Blairo Maggi from agriculture, livestock and supply, and the President of the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (EMBRAPA), Maurício Antonio Lopes.

IICA said that the main purpose of the event is to facilitate access to new technology and cooperation and diversify the trade of nations that are vulnerable in terms of food security and the effects of climate change.

Mr. Otero said: “The mission  in Brazil marks the fulfillment of a specific commitment I made at the start of my administration — that of making IICA an institution that serves as a bridge between countries, regions, international agencies and issues, developing a new solidarity within our continent. We are determined to ensure that the Americas cease to be the continent with the lowest levels of trade among its countries”

The event on Monday began with presentations by the Brazilian ministers of state and the president of EMBRAPA. Otero was due to provide details of “IICA’s New Technical Cooperation Model” and Brazil’s National Secretary for Food and Nutrition Security, Caio Rocha, and describe his country’s public policies for family farming and how they relate to food and nutrition security.

On Tuesday (today), the Caribbean ministers and representatives are to visit a unit of EMBRAPA that operates a climate simulation chamber for the production of vegetables under different environmental conditions, and a station where organic fertilizer is produced. They will also attend a lecture on good vegetable production practices for family farming.

Today, too, the officials will visit the Federal District’s Wholesale Produce Market (CEASA), where they will learn about a food procurement programme, an example of a public policy for the purchase, distribution and marketing of the agricultural production of family farmers.

The ministers’ activities in Brazil will conclude with meetings with the Minister of Social Development, the Director General of IICA and the Brazilian parliamentary leaders heavily involved in the agriculture sector.

The Caribbean delegates will travel to Argentina after their visit to Brazil to complete the mission by this weekend.
After their visit to Brazil, the Caribbean ministers will travel to Argentina, the IICA release stated.