Secretary, DARE & DG, ICAR Visited Commonwealth of Dominica and Trinidad & Tobago

Secretary, DARE and Director General, ICAR Visited Commonwealth of Dominica and Trinidad & Tobago to Strengthen Technical Cooperation in Agriculture

19 October, 2011

DG-Dominic-visit-2011-1 Dr. S. Ayyappan, Secretary, DARE and Director General, ICAR visited Commonwealth of Dominica and Trinidad & Tobago leading a two-member Delegation with Shri Rajiv Mehrishi, Additional Secretary, DARE and Secretary, ICAR, during 14-17 October, 2011, coinciding with the Caribbean Week of Agriculture organized in Dominica.

The Delegation briefed the Prime Minister of Government of Commonwealth of Dominica on 14th October, 2011, about the potential collaborative aspects in research, education and capacity development with regard to banana, citrus, coconut, root crops, medicinal plants, vegetables, goat farming and fisheries. The main concerns are with regard to leaf spot virus of banana; red palm mite; invasive pests and diseases; low productivity of tuber crops; farm mechanization; primary processing of horticultural produce; soil testing facilities; diagnostics; and quality planting material.

Visits were made to the Dominica Science College with Agriculture faculty; integrated farms of pineapple, citrus and banana; Protected cultivation of vegetables; and Fisheries sites.

DG-Dominic-visit-2011-2a DG-Dominic-visit-2011-3 DG-Dominic-visit-2011-4 DG-Dominic-visit-2011-5

Areas identified for collaboration

Visit of experts in disease management in banana at Dominica
Faculty competence building in agriculture in Dominica
Germplasm exchange and invasive pests in the Caribbean countries with CARDI
Visit of experts in Rice, Coconut, Citrus and Pest-management to Trinidad
Integrated models of cultivation to processing in sugarcane, citrus, coconut and mango in Trinidad
Capacity building and Farmers' exchange visits

Two Memoranda of Agreement for technical cooperation in agriculture were signed with: Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI); and the Government of Commonwealth of Dominica. Discussions were held with the Agriculture Minister of Dominica and the President of the Dominica Science College with regard to the above aspects, as also deputation of experts and capacity building.

Dr. Ayyappan delivered a public lecture at Trinidad on ‘Agricultural Research for Development and Food Security’ under the aegis of the CARDI, covering aspects of potential collaboration between Trinidad & Tobago, CARDI and the ICAR.

The Delegation met the Minister of Food Production, Land & Marine Affairs, Government of Trinidad & Tobago; Director General, CARDI and other senior officials and discussed issues relating to Germplasm exchange, Crop improvement, Crop protection and Diagnostics, Biosecurity and Quarantine, Farm mechanization, Primary Processing, Testing and Referral facilities, Policy Research, Farmers’ visits, Agro-advisories and Capacity building. An agreement with the Ministry of Food Production, Land and Marine Affairs, Govt. of Trinidad & Tobago, with Workplan pertaining to rice, coconut, sugarcane and citrus was signed.

Detailed discussions were also held at the Indian High Commission for follow-up action in the above areas. Representatives of the Chambers of Commerce highlighted the need for setting up integrated models sugarcane cultivation and processing; coconut, mango and citrus in Trinidad.