A delegation from the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (EMBRAPA), sponsored by the Brazilian Cooperation Agency and the Embassy of Brazil, visited St Vincent and the Grenadines last month.{{more}}

This was the second EMBRAPA mission to this country.

The mission was focused on identifying areas of technical cooperation between Brazil and St Vincent and the Grenadines in agricultural research.

The technical team was hosted by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries, Rural Transformation and Industry, and comprised Dr José Amauri Buso, coordinator of the EMBRAPA Americas project, and Dr Hermínio Souza Rocha, an expert in cassava and fruits.

They met with ministry officials and visited several areas which can potentially benefit from technical cooperation.

On the final day, a debriefing was held between ministry officials, including the minister, permanent secretary and chief agricultural officer, and Brazil’s ambassador to SVG Michael Francis de Maya Monteiro and Dr José Amauri Buso.

Several priority areas were identified for cooperation.

From the Vincentian perspective, these include: processing of fruits and root crops; mechanization of agriculture; rehabilitation of the coconut industry; and capacity building through the Agricultural Training Institute.

The team was keen on exploring plant germplasm exchange, the ministry said in a release.

The EMBRAPA mission will subsequently develop a proposal to be submitted to the various research agencies in Brazil for consideration.