The Ministry of Agriculture is collaborating with the Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI) to conduct an evaluation of the development of five varieties of carrots in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

The Ministry of Agriculture says the exercise represents a strategic effort to reduce the national food import bill while creating higher profitability for rural communities.

Speaking at the presentation of one of the demonstration plots, Senior Agricultural Officer Philbert Gould said the initiative is a step toward national food security.

He added: "Thank you to Canada for the support it supplies to CARTAC, and has done over the twenty-five (25) year history of CARTAC. We have other development partners of course as well; the United Kingdom, the European Union, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the Caribbean Development Bank, and the ECCB. Without their help, we couldn't put this on, and indeed without the help of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, this wouldn't have happened. So, I think we owe a big round of applause and thanks to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and to our development partners. That's the thank-you part of my words over, and it's a plea to you to sort of grasp the opportunity that you've got here today. CARTAC is increasingly putting on regional workshops and bilateral technical assistance and training in artificial intelligence. The team here is great, the subject is important; please give it your full attention and indeed build some bridges among yourselves."

The initiative is a component of a European Union-Funded project, implemented by the International Trade Center (ITC).

The presentation was held on September 3, in the Majorca Mountains.

SOURCE: National Broadcasting Corporation (NBC Radio)