The International Trade Center, says its role in the implementation of the Carrot Trial is to guarantee market access and to continue advancing initiatives aimed at strengthening food security.

That’s according to ITC Project Coordinator for Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Cindy Cathy-Eugene, who delivered remarks during the presentation in the Majorca Mountain.

She noted: "ITC's role is to ensure that you have this market access. When you plant, where will you sell it? And more importantly, how much will you get paid? Because this is important. If you do it right-because you said that you used to export carrots to Trinidad; growing up and I am Saint Lucian, and my mother said that we used to get carrots from Saint Vincent. So, there is history, and I say it to the EU and the ITC: one thing that I have seen about Saint Vincent in the last two years I've been in Saint Vincent, you do not have to beg people to work, you just let them know that they will be paid and they will get it done, and not just be paid but be paid fairly. And the ITC is ever so willing to continue initiatives like this, and I have said to the team from CARDI what we did for the last six (6) months, we were supposed to test this to see if this is something that we can expand and see how the Vincentian farmer can benefit from the resources that the ITC has. The evidence is clear that this is something that we can work with. So again, I would like to thank you, the farmers, because without you, the farmers, this is just a waste. So, the ITC can say that to the EU, we can tell them that their money is well spent and we are definitely looking to invest more."

The ITC provides tailored solutions and supports smallholder farmers to ensure their livelihoods and food security.

It also works to enhance the international competitiveness of micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in agriculture, helping them navigate challenges such as digital disruption and climate change.

SOURCE: National Broadcasting Corporation (NBC Radio)