ST. GEORGE’S, Grenada, CMC – Grenada and Cuba have signed an agreement intended to result in the Spanish-Spanish-speaking providing technical assistance and support to boost, develop, and enhance the agricultural 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 to 14.
“Specifically, the document refers to exchanging experiences with agriculture producers, undertaking training for the production of horticulture seeds and grains adapted to the climatic conditions, and introducing new varieties that are resistance plants and seeds,” he said.
“It also speaks to offering technical assistance for producing fruits, vegetables, and other crops that interest the two countries. It also refers to offering technical assistance and training in climate resilience agricultural practices,” said Andrews, who also serves as Minister for Economic Development and Planning.
He added, “We would also consider technical assistance in vegetable pathology, agroecological management, and ornamental flower production.”
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 is 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 develop aquaculture adequately.”
Andrews told reporters that the cooperation will involve several planned activities and will be based on consultancy, training, technological exchange, and 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. As regards aquaculture, our cooperation will involve several different areas, so there will be technical exchange on tilapia and farming in the freshwater environment, including shrimp farming,” he said.
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