Grenada and Cuba have signed an agreement that is intended to result in the Spanish speaking country providing technical assistance and support aimed at boosting, developing and enhancing the agriculture sector.
Agriculture Minister Lennox Andrews told a news conference on Tuesday that the agreement covers four broad areas for cooperation.
“The first one has to do with agriculture and vegetable products,” said Andrews, who was among four other government ministers including Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell who visited Cuba on an official four-day trip from April 11-14.
“Specifically, the document makes reference to, exchange experiences with agriculture producers, undertake training for the production of horticulture seeds and grains adapted to the climatic conditions and the introduction of new varieties that are resistance plants and seeds,” he said.
“It also speaks to offering technical assistance for the production of fruits, vegetables and other crops that are of interest to the two countries. It also makes reference to offering technical assistance and training in climate resilience agricultural practices,” said Andrews who also serves as Minister for Economic Development and Planning.
“We would also look at technical assistance in the area of vegetable pathology as well as agro-ecological management and in the production of ornamental flowers,” he added.
The second broad area is in the area of livestock and animal products.
“And here we will cooperate to improve the techniques in artificial insemination in sheep and goats…and move towards genetic improvement of our livestock,” said Andrews.
He said the third area has to do with forestry and “here we are going to conduct investigations and exchange in forest handling and the other areas.
’With regards to the area of fisheries and aquaculture, the broad objective is to establish the bases that will allow the parties to provide each other the technical cooperation and assistance to adequately develop aquaculture.”
Andrews told reporters that the cooperation will involve a number of planned activities and will be based on consultancy, training, technological exchange; exchange of professions through the execution of an action plan in areas of mutual interest.
“In the area of fisheries we would focus on technical exchange specifically for deep sea marine fishing and as with regards to aquaculture, our cooperation will involve a number of different areas, so there will be technical exchange on tilapia and farming in the freshwater environment including shrimp farming,” he said.
’With regards to the area of fisheries and aquaculture, the broad objective is to establish the bases that will allow the parties to provide each other the technical cooperation and assistance to adequately develop aquaculture.”
Andrews told reporters that the cooperation will involve a number of planned activities and will be based on consultancy, training, technological exchange; exchange of professions through the execution of an action plan in areas of mutual interest.
“In the area of fisheries we would focus on technical exchange specifically for deep sea marine fishing and as with regards to aquaculture, our cooperation will involve a number of different areas, so there will be technical exchange on tilapia and farming in the freshwater environment including shrimp farming,” he said.
