EU funded region’s agriculture initiative

DSC_2438Georgetown : The European Union (EU) and the Inter American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) signed a grant of 8.6 million Euros aimed at improving policies and incentives to support productivity and profitability of the region’s small agri producers and entrepreneurs.

Termed the inter ACP Agriculture Policy Programme (APP) for the Caribbean, the four- year programme will see IICA partnering with the Caribbean Agriculture Research and Development Institute (CARDI) to encourage applied technology,  research and innovation, entrepreneurship development, local and market linkages to address the development needs of small producers/entrepreneurs.

Beneficiaries will include all participating CARIFORUM nations with Ministries of Agriculture, Health, and Tourism and other key regional institutions and universities partnering.

The EU is hopeful that the stakeholders make the best use of the funds provided with the expectation of the Caribbean regaining its status as a breadbasket, according to EU Head of Delegation Ambassador Robert Kopecky who signed the agreement with IIC’s Representative in Trinidad and Tobago, Gregg Rawlins.

 Donald Ramotar, who holds an important portfolio for agriculture in CARICOM joined Minister of Agriculture Dr. Leslie Ramsammy and CARICOM Secretary General Irwin LaRocque were among the witnesses to the agreement at the EU Office on Croal Street.

The Guyanese President is disappointed at the heavy food import bill in CARICOM, and that agriculture within the region is underutilised, but is still optimistic that the potential is there to promote security, and at the same time, feed the world.

He believes that the time has come for a change in the attitude towards agriculture.

“We have to educate our farmers more to use new techniques, different types of techniques… part of the problem that we face in our region is the image that a farmer presents to the society, as being poor, uneducated and working their hands,” President Ramotar said.

IICA was particularly pleased at the multi-dimentional approach to the project and is looking forward to an outcome of equality in the coordination, genuine benefits and improvements in the livelihood of the intended small producers.

The initiative is premised on the philosophy that locally grown food is lacking and farmers are often paid inadequately for their hard work. The CARICOM Secretary General viewed it as a supporting initiative to the region’s food security plan.