BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – THE Caribbean is expected to benefit from the recent signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) and the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science (CAAS) – an agreement which identifies areas of cooperation in the field of agricultural science and technology.
CAAS has been in existence for over a half-century and has a strategic task of serving agricultural and rural development and empowering farmers with science and technology in the East Asian continent. Its main mandates focus on strategic and applied research solving scientific problems which are of national or regional importance. This application of science and technology in the field of agriculture has been noted as a critical area for regional economies which would require key partnerships with CAAS.
CDB Vice-President of Finance Neville Grainger signed on behalf of the Bank, while CAAS President Dr. Zhai Huqu singed on behalf of his institution.
According to a press release issued by CDB, the specific areas in which the two institutions would cooperate include tropical fruits, agricultural production, food safety, agricultural biotechnology, protected cultivation, integrated pest management and water resource management.
The report further stated that this cooperation would be facilitated through the exchange of technical study teams in areas of mutual interest to strengthen administrative, technical and academic staff. There are also plans for the organisation of meetings, workshops and technical training courses.
These approaches are expected to facilitate and develop projects that would benefit both CAAS and CDB’s borrowing member countries.
