IICA holds accountability seminar

The Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture, IICA Delegation in Dominica, held its national accountability seminar on May 16, 2018 at the Prevost Cinemall Conference Room in Roseau.

This annual event provides IICA with the opportunity to present its achievements for the preceding year. An opportunity is provided also for its partners and beneficiaries to discuss and identify strategic actions and new demands for short to medium term actions. Over twenty participants attended the seminar.

The featured speaker was Dr. Reginald Thomas, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries. In his delivery, he commended IICA for its response post Hurricane Maria and made special mention to the support towards rapid propagation of vegetable seedlings for distribution to farmers. He aligned the support to improved food and nutrition security as well as declined prices of vegetables after the disaster. He also recognized the collaborating partners, CARDI and the OECS Commission. He recognized the importance of the Accountability Seminar and applauded the Institute in its achievements for the period 2017. He however presented in his remarks, areas for continued support and guidance as the Ministry looks to a new direction for the agriculture sector, post Maria. He mentioned the following subject areas: food security, women and youth; agribusiness commercialization, strategic plans and policies.

Other technical officers in the Ministry of Agriculture participated, as well as other clients, stakeholders and organizations with whom IICA works in close collaboration. Mr. Kent Coipel, Technical Specialist in the IICA Delegation in Dominica presented the 2017 Report and Proposed 2018 Work Plan for the IICA Delegation in Dominica.

The presentation gave a brief background on the Institute, its mandate and its technical areas of focus as well as results of the technical cooperation, and actions for completion in 2018. A copy of the 2017 Annual Report was handed over to Dr. Reginald Thomas, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries.

The event was chaired by Mr. Collin Bully, Senior Agricultural Advisor. The Seminar concluded with discussions with partners, beneficiaries and officials of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries which resulted in a number of proposed actions and comments regarding future programmes of the Institute.