Ministry of Agriculture, Taiwan sign new MOU

The renewal of an agreement on Agricultural Technical Cooperation between the governments of St Vincent and the Grenadines and the Republic of China (Taiwan){{more}} is in an effort to continue the progressive levels of cooperation between both states since 1982, this country’s Agriculture Minister has said.

The agreement was officially signed on Monday at the Ministry of Agriculture’s conference room in Kingstown by Saboto Caesar, Minister of Agriculture and His Excellency Weber Shih, Taiwan’s Ambassador to St Vincent and the Grenadines.

According to the agreement, one of the project objectives is to study, on a limited basis, techniques for intensive cultivation on small farms with lower-intermediate capital input to ensure the maximum production of crops and livestock, and other related projects to reduce the need for relevant imports.

The minister also said that both states agreed to the continuation of the Technical Mission.

Projects undertaken by the Technical Mission have proven beneficial to the farmers and people of the country, Caesar told SEARCHLIGHT after the signing.

“One of the benefits to be derived from that, is very important to note, is the testing of our soils for cadmium. The presence of cadmium in your soils at certain levels definitely can prevent us from entering the European market and we are awaiting those results.

“So, I look forward to another two years of excellent cooperation between the government and the people of St Vincent and the Grenadines and the government and people of the Republic of China on Taiwan,” he said.

Shih said the renewed agreement is to open a new chapter for further strengthening the existing cordial agricultural cooperation.

According to Article 9, the agreement is valid for three years and shall be extended automatically for an equivalent period, until either party expressed in writting, its desire to terminate the agreement six months prior to its extension.(AA)