Exploring creative ways to utlise black belly sheep in cuisine and art, and the youth???s involvement in agriculture were among the areas discussed, when the Inter-American Institute on Cooperation in Agriculture???s (IICA) Representative to Barbados Ena Harvey, paid a courtesy call on Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator Maxine Mcclean.
During the call at the Ministry on Culloden Road, the two officials discussed a range of issues aimed at bringing about greater visibility to the sector???s role in driving economic development.
Mrs. Harvey, who is also IICA???s Management Coordinator for the Caribbean, outlined the organisation???s future plans, which would a move from programming framework to a ???results-oriented structure.
She added: ???We are focusing in areas where we have the strengths and making sure that what we do is compatible with what the other agencies do because there are a number of agencies who are doing a lot throughout the region.???
In turn, Minister McClean mentioned her deep interest in the youth???s involvement in agriculture, and disclosed that the Minister of Youth, Stephen Lashley, was currently working on a project.
In this connection, Mrs. Harvey mentioned IICA???s Youth Summer Farm, a collaboration with the Technical and Vocational Education and Training Council (TVET) which had seen increased participation.
The IICA representative said the programme started with 15 students, drawn from three secondary schools, to 31 students from nine secondary schools. The programme is based at the Princess Margaret Secondary School, Six Roads, St. Philip.
Mrs. Harvey said the TVET Council was pleased with the project and in this regard, the students will be pursuing the regional Caribbean Vocational Qualification.
The two officials also discussed topics such as the importance of culinary tourism and agro processing.
IICA is a specialised agency within the Inter-American system of the Organization of American States, which was established in 1942 to promote sustainable agricultural development through the facilitation of innovative and technical cooperation.
julie.carrington@barbados.gov.bb