by Linda Straker
- Agreement covers 4 broad areas for cooperation
- Areas include horticulture, aquaculture, livestock and vegetable production
- Cooperation will be through an action plan in areas of mutual interest
Grenada and Cuba have signed an agreement that will see the Spanish-speaking nation providing technical assistance and support aimed at boosting, developing and enhancing the agriculture sector in the areas of horticulture, aquaculture, livestock and vegetable production.
Agriculture Minister Lennox Andrews who accompanied Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell on an official trip to Cuba from 11–14 April, said that the agreement, which repealed and replaced an existing agreement, covers 4 broad areas for cooperation, the first one for agriculture and vegetable products. Andrews became Minister for Agriculture in January 2024 following a Cabinet reshuffle.
In a news conference on Tuesday, 16 April 2024, Andrews said, “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.”
Andrews who is also serves as Minister for Economic Development and Planning, said the agreement “also speaks to offering technical assistance for the production of fruits, vegetables and other crops that are of interest to the 2 countries. It also makes reference to offering technical assistance and training in climate resilience agricultural practices.” He added, “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.”
The second broad area concerns livestock and animal products, including cooperation to improve the techniques in artificial insemination in sheep and goats, and move towards genetic improvement of our livestock.
The agriculture minister disclosed that “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.” He explained 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.”