Three specialists from Argentina are presently in the State on a one-week visit to observe the functioning of a poverty reduction project, which has received funding from the Government of Argentina.

Maria Cristina Simone, Santiago Manuel Lazzarini {{more}}and Jose Maria Amalfi from the National Institute of Cooperative and Social Economy of the Ministry of Social Development of Argentina, arrived in St Vincent and the Grenadines on Sunday.

The objective of the project is the reduction of poverty, through improved livelihood among 300 poor families by the promotion of the cooperative enterprise development in four targeted rural communities namely: New Prospect, South Rivers, Marriaqua and Grieggs. These communities were chosen as a result of the downturn in the banana industry.

This is the second phase of a three-year project, which began in January 2013, which promotes the cooperation and development of cooperatives as a strategy to promote livelihood and to reduce poverty in the rural areas of SVG. To date some eight agricultural cooperatives have been formed. These cooperatives supply eggs, poultry meats, fruits and vegetables.

While in SVG, the officials will make courtesy calls on the Minister of National Mobilisation Frederick Stephenson and the Permanent Secretary and other staff within that Ministry and also on the Minister of Agriculture Saboto Caesar and the Permanent Secretary and other staff of the Ministry of Agriculture.

The team will also take part in the World Food Day activities and make visits to the cooperatives and also visit places of interest throughout SVG.

The three officials will leave the State on Saturday, October 18.