BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC—In a significant move, Barbados and China have signed three memorandums of understanding (MoU), paving the way for technical expertise in rice cultivation and establishing advanced hydroponics management systems. This collaboration holds immense potential for enhancing food security and agricultural development in Barbados.
In addition, the MoU will also allow for the provision of two tractors.
The agreements were signed by Agriculture, Food, and Nutritional Security Minister Indar Weir, Governor of Hunan Provincial People’s Government Mao Weiming, and Deputy Director-General of Hunan Provincial Department of Agricultural and Rural Affairs Liu Qihua.
The agreements are between the Barbados Agricultural Development and Marketing Corporation (BADMC) and Zoomlion Heavy Industry Science and Technology Co., Ltd.
“We have set as our objective as a nation to reach full [food] security based on our SDG goals for 2030. Through your ambassador, the People’s Republic of China has been a perfect partner and has given us more than enough to ensure we can bring our people into agriculture,” said Weir.
“To this end, we are very pleased with the Upland Rice Project, which has proven to be a success, and we are happy as we look forward to working on expanding that project to the Pine Basin,” he added.
China established the initial Upland Rice Project and provided technical support for it. The rice is cultivated on 78 square meters of land at BADMC. So far, the project has yielded 128 lbs of rice.
“We are very happy to see the fruitful outcome of the cooperation between Barbados and the Agricultural Department of Hunan, as well as affiliated companies and research institutes, in the upland rice planting under the greenhouse construction project,” said Weiming.
Hunan is one of the top rice producers in central China and has developed an advanced agriculture, art, and education industry.
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