ARTICLE - IICA STRATEGY FOR THE CARIBBEAN

IICA HIGHLIGHTS 2010-2014 STRATEGY FOR THE CARIBBEAN REGION AT OAS
(Bahamas Islands Info) - By Alejandra Chaves

WASHINGTON, DC - “IICA belongs to the Member States, and our staff will continue to work together to tackle the challenges facing agriculture development in the 21st century. This certainly includes the Caribbean region.” reaffirmed Victor M. Villalobos, Director General of the Inter- American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) as he highlighted key priorities of the Institute’s Caribbean Strategy 2010-2014.

During a breakfast held at the Organization of American States (OAS), and before Ambassadors and officials to the Missions of the OAS from the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), Villalobos summarized IICA’s approach to support its Member States in their efforts to realize the Millennium Development Goals. He explained, “The strategy takes into consideration the environmental instability and vulnerability of the Caribbean Region due to changes in climate, which has resulted in more frequent and intense hurricanes, drought and flooding, fluctuations in rainfall and declining availability of water; which all of pose a threat to agriculture and rural life in the region,”

According to Villalobos, the plan has four principal objectives: 1) to improve sanitary conditions for plants and animals; 2) to promote and increase agriculture production; 3) to promote and increase agribusiness and agricultural tourism and 4) to address climate change concerns for the countries.

In addition to the principal objectives, the Villalobos Administration also aims to implement practices including how best to work with the regional research body, the Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI); how best to implement the Jagdeo Initiative, the framework for agriculture development in the Caribbean and how to most effectively invest IICA’s US $33.3 million dollar operating budget, to name a few.

“All our efforts are geared towards the achievement of competitive and sustainable agriculture,” underscored Villalobos as he explained the recently launched General Directorate’s Competitive Fund for Technical Cooperation Projects. “This initiative is a mechanism which among other results will make it possible to attract external funds to IICA Director General. Victor M. Villalobos, addresses CARICOM countries at the OAS in Washington, DC. finance technical cooperation which IICA provides.” He urged participants of the gathering to consider using the mechanism to further agriculture at their country.

The IICA 2010-2014 Strategy will be implemented in fourteen Caribbean member countries, namely Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago.