The Executive Director of the Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI), Mr. Ansari Hosein, paid a three-day visit to St. Vincent and the Grenadines from Monday, October 23rd, to Wednesday, October 25th, 2023. This visit included a courtesy call to Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Ralph Gonsalves at the Cabinet Room on Tuesday, October 24, 2023.
Among the issues discussed were the vision of CARDI, the impacts of climate change, strategic approaches to pastoral larceny, the labor shortage in the agriculture sector, and the manner in which bad farming practices through the use of hazardous pesticides continue to negatively impact our soils.
The CARDI Executive Director noted that CARDI intends to work closer with the Ministry of Agriculture to develop centers of excellence at the various agricultural stations across the country so that the stations can increase productivity.
Mr. Hosein further indicated that there are benefits to be derived from several projects, which include the Regional Sweet Potato Industry Value Chain Enhancement and Technology Transfer project funded by the Caribbean Development Bank and implemented by CARDI in partnership with the University of the West Indies and the Ministry of Agriculture, the Alliance for Coconut Industry Development Expansion and Enhancement Support for the Caribbean funded by the European Union and implemented by CARDI, the International Trade Centre (ITC), and the Ministry of Agriculture, as well as the Dasheen Development Program.
The Hon. Prime Minister said he welcomed the continued support of CARDI for St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
Also present at the meeting were the Minister of Agriculture, Hon. Saboto Caesar, and the newly appointed CARDI Representative to St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Mr. Donawa Jackson, a trained and experienced agricultural technician.
The three-day visit also includes a field tour of several CARDI experimental plots and meetings with other implementing agencies that have significantly contributed to the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Agricultural Sector.
Simultaneously, UWI delegate Dr. Oral Daley was also on an official visit to SVG and joined the tour with the team.
