the Agriculture Agenda

Week Oct 4 - 10, 2010

Events directly and indirectly related to agricultural development

October NB: Some more info for you!

Mon 04 Agriculture Month October is Agriculture Month in Guyana. Several activities are planned to highlight the sectors
1 – 31 October achievements and also to present an ideal opportunity for farmers, agro-processors; stakeholders
Guyana and others to display their products. Among these activities will be the launching of the Guyana's
Food Security Strategy. This year‟s theme is “Fighting global hunger through Agriculture Diversification
in Guyana. Speaking at a media briefing on September 29, 2010, Chairperson of the Agriculture
Coordinating Committee - Mr. Basdeo Dwarla said „Guyana is know as a country that is food secure,
by increasing agriculture production through the Ministry‟s Agricultural Export Diversification
Programme (ADP), efforts to combat world hunger can be achieved.” He also noted that
recognition will be given to livestock development, and the Livestock Development Authority. There
will be distribution of livestock and a bee forum. “With respect to fruits and vegetables the National
Agricultural Research Institute's (NARI's), facilities will be commissioned, that will be aiding and driving
fruits and vegetables. We will also have a Pesticide and Residue and Safety forum with the health
aspect by the Pesticide Board during that period,” he said. The month's activities are also in keeping
with the Food and Agriculture Organisation's theme for World Food Day “United against hunger.”
“Soil Sampling Dr. Fullerton of the Eastern Caribbean Fertilizer Company (Barbados) Ltd (ECFCO) in collaboration
Week” with Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) will be conducting field seminars concerning soil
3 – 8 Oct 2010 sampling and balanced plant nutrition for rice, from October 3 – 8, 2010 in Guyana.
Guyana NB: The region should take note of this activity since the subject of preserving soils for agriculture
should be of concern to all in the agriculture sector, from farmers to policy makers.
Regional Workshop The USDA-APHIS in collaboration with the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture
on the (IICA) CARICOM Secretariat with technical expertise provided by the Florida Association for
Identification of Volunteer Action in the Caribbean and the Americas (FAVACA) are planning and executing this
Pest of the Order: workshop that will focus on pests of quarantine importance of the Order Heteroptera. The proposed
Heteroptera
training in the identification of Heteropteran pests is a continuation of efforts in the Region to
4 – 7 Oct 2010
Grenada increase capacity in identification of pests of economic/quarantine importance. A similar workshop
was held in 2009 focusing on the Order Coleoptera. There are many Heteropteran pests that are of
quarantine importance to the Caribbean Region. Some of these such as the cotton seed bug are
present in some countries while others such as those that belong to the family Pentatomidae are
plant feeders, many of which are of significant economic importance. The impact of Invasive Alien
Species (such as those belonging to the Order Heteroptera) on agriculture is arguably one of the
most important challenges facing countries globally and in particular in the Caribbean Region. The
ability to increase production or maintain current levels of production has been threatened by
outbreaks of pests. Thus increasing the pest identification capacity in the Region is a priority.
20th Session of the The 20th Session of the Committee on Forestry (COFO) will be held at FAO Headquarters in Rome
Committee on during the period 4 – 8 October 2010. The COFO is one of the FAO governing bodies and its biennial
Forestry (COFO) sessions bring together forestry senior government officials to identify emerging issues and advise FAO
4 – 8 Oct 2010 on appropriate actions. This year, discussions will be centered on the new challenges faced by
Rome
forestry as a result of a changing climate, in particular:- (a). The balance needed between forests for
people, climate change and conservation of biological diversity; (b).The issue of forest fires and the
linkages to climate change; (c). The impact of climate change on water flows from forests; (d).
Emerging sources of finance for forests widely and equitably.
Tues 05 World Forest Week 2 World forest week will take place simultaneously with the COFO and will offer a series of events,
(WFW) including a panel of scientists and Heads of Forestry on Reducing Emissions for Deforestation and
5 – 7 Oct 2010 forest Degradation (REDD+) and an international conference on “Emerging Economic Mechanisms:
Rome Implications for Forest-Related Policies and Sector Governance”. An information event on “The
current status of REDD+: national and international developments” will also be organized on 5th
October, by the UN-REDD Programme to provide an update of new developments in the REDD+
arena, including lessons learnt from the implementation of activities and plans for future national
strategies. The schedule of COFO 2010 (including WFW events) is available at
http://www.fao.org/forestry/coco/en/.
Wed 06
Thurs 07
Fri 08
Sat 09
Sun 10
Also in the month of October:
 CAB International IAS Project 2nd International Project Steering Committee Meeting (St. Lucia);
 National Consultations On Agriculture (St. Kitts)
 Caribbean Week of Agriculture (Grenada);
 3rd Annual Permaculture Design Course (Trinidad);
Details provided in the respective Week Agriculture Agenda and in the full monthly calendars which can be viewed on
www.carapn.net. Please keep sharing information about your events to help us keep all stakeholders informed and updated on
time. Send your information to Diana.Francis@iica.int and or admin@carapn.net

ANNOUNCEMENT REMINDER: DEADLINE EXTENDED ON THE UNDP’s Regional contest for rural innovative projects.
The contest, under the theme “Microenterprise Development, Income Generating Activity & Innovation, focusing on Youth Rural enterprises,
Micro-credit and Innovation and Transformation of Agriculture” is open to rural groups and associations in the OECS, Barbados, Guyana,
Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago. Support for rural youth and women initiatives is of particular interest. All types of organized or registered
groups (e.g. community based organizations, cooperatives, associations, etc.) with such projects are encouraged to participate. Get
online application form from http://www.bb.undp.org/innovative-projects or requested copy from mario.porchetta@undp.org or mailing
request quoting this notice to: The Project Coordinator, CARUTA, UNDP, UN House, Marine Gardens, Hastings, Christ Church, BARBADOS.
THE DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION OF PROJECTS IS NOW 3RD DECEMBER 2010.

a project of the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) and the Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation