Inter-American
Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA)
|
Dr.
Alexis Gardella
- Representative
IICA TCA in Guyana
P.O. Box 10-1089
18 Brickdam, Stabroek
Georgetown, Guyana, South America
tel: (592) 226-8835/226-8347 fax: (592)
225-8358 email:
iica@sdnp.org.gy
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The Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) is the specialised
agency for agriculture of the Inter-American system. The Institute was founded on October
7, 1942, when the Council of Directors of the Pan-American Union approved the creation of
the Inter-American Institute of Agricultural Sciences, to be headquartered in Costa Rica.
IICA
was founded as an institution for agricultural research and graduate training in tropical
agriculture. In response to changing needs in the Americas, the Institute gradually
evolved into an agency for technical cooperation in the field of agriculture. These
changes were officially recognised through the ratification of a new Convention on
December 8, 1980. The Institute's purposes under the new Convention are to encourage,
facilitate and support cooperation among its Member States so as to promote agricultural
development and rural well-being.
The Member States participate directly in the
Inter-American Board of Agriculture (IABA) and the Executive Committee, the Institute's
governing bodies, which issue the policy guidelines executed by the General Directorate.
Today, IICA has a geographic reach that allows it to respond to needs for technical
cooperation in the countries, through its Technical Cooperation Agencies and five Regional
Centres, which coordinate the implementation of strategies tailored to the needs of each
region.
The participation and support of the Member States and the
relations IICA maintains with its Permanent Observers and numerous international
organisations provide IICA with channels to direct its human and financial resources in
support of agricultural development throughout the Americas. IICA support actions are
guided by a regularly updated Medium Term Plan (MTP) approved by the IABA. The most recent
MTP covers the period 1994-98. It provides the strategic framework for orienting IICA's
actions during this four-year period. Its general objective is to support the efforts of
the Member States in achieving sustainable agricultural development, within the framework
of hemispheric integration and as a contribution to human development in rural areas. The
Institute's work is aimed at making changes in three aspects of agriculture: production,
trade and institutional strengthening, using an integrated approach to development which
is based on sustainability, equity and competitiveness.
The Institute is composed of 34 Member States, representing
practically all of the independent countries of the Western Hemisphere. It also has 17
Permanent Observers from around the world.
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1) Development of the Organic Cocoa Industry in
Guyana
| Region 1, Mabaruma/Hosororo
Area
Mabaruma/Hosororo Organic Cocoa Growers
Association
In collaboration with:
Ministry of Fisheries, Crops and Livestock
National Agricultural Research Institute
British High Commission
Cocoa Research Unit, Trinidad
|
Funding:
Objective:
Revitalization and expansion of cocoa production on an organic
agricultural basis for export as a means of increasing farm
revenue for participating farmers; and as a foundation for the
development of an organic agriculture government policy
initiative.
Activities:
Training in organic cultivation techniques; identification and
classification of local cocoa varieties; revitalization of
standing cocoa trees and propagation for increased production;
institutional development of local farmers' organisation,
including establishing business management systems; training in
cocoa processing for export; international sales; organic
certification in process.
Results
to date: This project
only began in August 2000, but the first season has already
yielded 2,000 lbs of organic cocoa beans — this first shipment
left Guyana on the 16th of June for Rotterdam. The
Association has received initial training in organic
cultivation, pruning and propagation techniques, and is about to
undergo intensive training in business management. Efforts are
currently underway to expand production through the inclusion of
other potential cocoa farmers in Region 1. Other Regions are
also being assessed for possible development of cocoa
production. |
|
2) Joint Project for Improving the Processing of
Cashew at St. Ignatius
| Region 9, Lethem, Rupununi
Area
Helping Hands Women's Group
In collaboration with:
Ministry of Fisheries, Crops and
Livestock
Regional Democratic Council, Region 9
Rotary Club International
Beacon Foundation
Funding:
- UNICEF
- Government of Guyana Amazon
Programme
Objective:
To develop the hinterland cashew industry as a sustainable
economic enterprise, creating employment opportunities for women
and youth in the Rupununi.
Activities:
Identification and validation of a cost effective and
sustainable method of processing cashews in the area, including
the establishment of a management system for the processing,
packaging and marketing of the cashews in the Georgetown retail
market.
Results to date:
In 2000, the Helping Hands purchased 1,353 pounds of raw nuts
and processed these into 6,839 100-gram packages of dried
cashews which were primarily sold in Georgetown supermarkets.
The Helping Hands Women's Group has been purchasing raw nuts
since January this year and has begun processing these. In March
and April of this year, they also received further intensive
training in business management, initiated several improvements
to their production line and with assistance developed a
business plan which they have begun implementing. They are
currently bagging their cashews in Lethem, and marketing them
through their own agent in Georgetown. |
|
3) Development of the Peanut Industry in the
North Rupununi
| Region 9, Northern Rupununi
North Rupununi District Agricultural
Producers Association (NRDAPA)
In collaboration with:
Ministry of Fisheries, Crops and Livestock
National Agricultural Research Institute
FAVA/CA & University of Florida
Funding:
- Cariforum Agribusiness
Research and Training Fund (CARTF)
- UNICEF Government of Guyana
Amazon Programme
Objective:
Improvement of peanut production and marketing from the Northern
Rupununi
Activities:
Research on appropriate seed varieties, planting densities and
drip irrigation; training programme in production, plant
protection, and harvesting.
Results to date:
(Project began in July 2000) A motorized peanut huller, a
hand-operated picker, sheller and grinder were imported for the
use of the peanut farmers under the auspices of the University
of Florida. Initial application of improved production
techniques resulted in a 110% increase in yield. This year will
continue and extend the initial training, with added attention
to post-harvest handling and marketing. |
|
4) Wakapoa Coffee Rehabilitation
Project
|
Region Two, Wakapoa,
Lower Pomeroon
Wakapoa Coffee Producers
Association
In collaboration with:
Ministry of Fisheries, Crops and Livestock
National Agricultural Research Institute
IICA/Haiti and IICA/PROMECAFE
|
Funding:
Objective:
To increase the income and improve the well-being of indigenous
people in the Lower Pomeroon through the rehabilitation of the
local coffee industry.
Activities:
Training in improved production regimens and washed coffee
processing techniques, including washing, drying, roasting,
grinding and marketing of coffee. Construction of processing
plants. Diversification through improved production techniques
in honey and cassava.
Results to date:
Two wet processing plants are completed and operational, four
new coffee processing plants are in the initial stages of
construction. Eight local individuals have been trained as
extension agents. Six community nurseries have been established.
Four new coffee producers associations have been instituted. And
two inter-cropping demonstration farming units have been
established. However, there has been an overstock of coffee on
the local market for more than 18 months, with the result that
no coffee has been sold during that time. Liberica coffee
has very limited international market opportunities. Alternative
crop production is currently being explored for development as a
replacement of the coffee. |
|
5) Support to the Development of
the Dairy Sector
| IICA provides technical
support to the Cattle Farmers Association, the National Dairy
Development Programme, the St. Stanislaus Dairy Training Centre and Farm
and sits on the Task Force of the FAO-NDDP Mini Milk Pasteurization
Plant, as well as publishing the sector newsletter, Cow Talk.
IICA is also assisting in the launching of the new Guyana Dairy
Development Project, a Partners of the Americas project, with funding
from USAID. |
6) Support to the Development of
the Guyana Agricultural Information Network (GAIN) Project
|
IICA currently provides
technical and material support to the establishment and development of
an agricultural information network for Guyana's public sector
agricultural institutions as an extension of the G77 SARD (Sustainable
Agricultural and Rural Development) Project, funded by UNDP. After 10
months, the official launching of Agri-Net Guyana Web Site is scheduled
for Tuesday, the 26th of June. |
7) Establishment of a Local
Chapter of the Caribbean Agri-Business Association (CABA)
| IICA has conceptualised and
promoted the establishment of this association, launched in the
Dominican Republic in 1998. There are local chapters in Trinidad &
Tobago, Jamaica, Barbados, Dominican Republic, and Haiti, with the local
Guyana Chapter scheduled to be launched in July 2001. CABA is designed
to foster trade linkages within the Hemisphere and to act as a lobbying
force both regionally and hemispherically. |
8) Caribbean Council for Higher
Education in Agriculture (CACHE)
| CACHE is a regional network
of public and private educational institutions, organised to enhance
their contribution toward fostering human resource development for
sustainable transformation of agriculture in the Caribbean. Following
from an initiative under the CARICOM Secretariat RTP Sub-Programme on
Human Resource Development led by the University of the West Indies,
IICA has been instrumental in the establishment of this network. CACHE
currently comprises the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Puerto Rico,
Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago and the US Virgin Islands. The University
of Guyana is Guyana's core member in CACHE and is currently working with
IICA to establish a national chapter. |
10) Carambola Fruit Fly
Surveillance Project in Guyana
| Guyana
was declared free of the Carambola Fruit Fly in late 2000.
The unit continues its monitoring and surveillance activities
under IICA auspices with the Ministry of Agriculture's extension of
the appointment of the National Coordinator and key team members. |
11) Improving Agricultural
Health Services and Food Safety Services in the Caribbean to Facilitate Trade
and Protect Health Regional Project
| The
Guyana component of this regional project provides technical
assistance to the understanding and compliance with the WTO Agreement
on SPS measures, as well as assistance to the Ministries of
Agriculture and Health for the establishment and development of public
agricultural health and food safety systems |
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Contact us at "iica@sdnp.org.gy"
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