St. Vincent and the Grenadines continue to receive assistance in geo-spatial mapping to assist the Ministry of Agriculture to craft a best fit crop diversification plan, thanks to the Government and people of the Republic of China (Taiwan).
Minister of Agriculture, Hon. Saboto Caesar says the Digital maps are now available for use by the Ministry of Agriculture for identifying the results of elements in the soil within main agriculture areas.
Minister Caesar says the digital maps will assist greatly in providing valuable information about deficiencies in the soils in certain areas.
Hon. Saboto Caesar and Minister of Economic Planning Hon. Camillo Gonsalves, are heading up a six-member Vincentian delegation in Taiwan this week, as part of a joint effort to secure resources and assistance for the people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
Hon. Caesar noted that the geo-spatial information would be transferred to farmers during this year through a system of organised farmer field school training.
He concluded that this information relating to the national soil analysis mapping could help Vincentian farmers increase their production since farmers will be better guided as it relates to fertiliser requirements.
The 6 (six) member Vincentian delegation had the opportunity to visit the Agriculture Research Institute responsible for the agriculture geo-spatial mapping in the Republic of China (Taiwan).
The delegation arrived on Tuesday, May 2nd, 2017 and later that day met with Ambassador Weber V. B. Shih, Secretary General of the International Cooperation and Development Fund.
The two youngest elected parliamentarians in the nation’s House of Assembly are widely regarded as the top contenders to succeed Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves as leader of the ruling Unity Labour Party (ULP) administration, and ultimately Prime Minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines.
The ministers and other members of the delegation will continue to meet with other policy makers and key stakeholders in different sectors to discuss issues of cooperation in several areas including agriculture and technology.
On Thursday, Caesar and Gonsalves would meet with President of the Republic of China (Taiwan) H.E Dr Tsai Ing-Wen. On Friday they would jointly call on Agriculture Minister Lin Tsung-hsien and later attend a luncheon hosted by Foreign Affairs Minister, His Excellency Dr David Tawei Lee, including other activities that day as part of the visit.
On Saturday, the Vincentian delegation would visit Taiwan’s National Cultural & Creative Gift Centre and attend the Cultural Festival for Latin America and the Caribbean before leaving for St. Vincent and the Grenadines on Sunday, May 7th, 2017.
The other members of the delegation are Aluka Browne, Fedaria Richardson, Sherilan Edward and Richard MacLeish.