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 October, Agriculture Month in Guyana with a theme “Fighting global hunger through Agriculture
Month Diversification in Guyana. The month features activities to highlight achievements and showcase
1 – 31 October products from the sector. Guyana's Food Security Strategy will also be launched. At a September media
Guyana briefing, Chairperson of the Agriculture Coordinating Committee, Mr. Basdeo Dwarla indicated that
Guyana is known as a food secure country and increasing agriculture production through the Ministry’s
Agricultural Export Diversification Programme (ADP), would contribute to combating world hunger.
Livestock, an important part of the ADP, will also be distributed. The National Agricultural Research
Institute's (NARI's) will also support expansion of fruit and vegetable production. Other activities include a
Pesticide and Residue and Safety forum emphasizing the health aspect. The month's activities are linked
to the FAO’s World Food Day theme -“United against hunger.”
“Soil Sampling Dr. Fullerton of the Eastern Caribbean Fertilizer Company (Barbados) Ltd (ECFCO) in collaboration with
Week” Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) will be conducting field seminars concerning soil sampling
3 – 8 Oct 2010 and balanced plant nutrition for rice, from October 3 – 8, 2010 in Guyana
Guyana
Regional The USDA-APHIS in collaboration with the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA)
Workshop on the CARICOM Secretariat with technical expertise provided by the Florida Association for Volunteer Action in
Identification of the Caribbean and the Americas (FAVACA) are planning and executing this workshop that will focus on
Pest of the
pests of quarantine importance of the Order Heteroptera. The proposed training in the identification of
Order:
Heteropteran pests is a continuation of efforts in the Region to increase capacity in identification of pests
Heteroptera
4 – 7 Oct 2010 of economic/quarantine importance. A similar workshop was held in 2009 focusing on the Order
Grenada 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 20th Session of the Committee on Forestry (COFO) will be held at FAO Headquarters in Rome during
the Committee the period 4 – 8 October 2010. The COFO is one of the FAO governing bodies and its biennial sessions
on Forestry bring together forestry senior government officials to identify emerging issues and advise FAO on
(COFO) appropriate actions. This year, discussions will be centered on the new challenges faced by forestry as a
4 – 8 Oct 2010
result of a changing climate, in particular:- (a). The balance needed between forests for people, climate
Rome
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 World forest week will take place simultaneously with the COFO and will offer a series of events,
Week 2 including a panel of scientists and Heads of Forestry on Reducing Emissions for Deforestation and forest
(WFW) Degradation (REDD+) and an international conference on “Emerging Economic Mechanisms:
5 – 7 Oct 2010 Implications for Forest-Related Policies and Sector Governance”. An information event on “The current
Rome 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 IICA Day IICA Trinidad and Tobago Office, celebrates its IICA Day Oct 7 2010, marking 32 years since IICA has
Celebration been in Trinidad and Tobago. To commemorate this event, IICA will host the Network of Rural Women
07 Oct 2010 Producers and other Institutional Colleagues at its St. Augustine office to also celebrate “Women in
Trinidad Agriculture”. The Institute has included a Special Session in the Thirtieth Meeting of the Executive
Committee to hold its first international forum on the subject of women in agriculture. This forum is being
held within the framework of Inter-American Year of Women declared by the Organization of American
States (OAS). On the same day, IICA will celebrate its 68th Anniversary since the founding of the Institute.
Fri 08 Organic Agri- The Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) and the Trinidad and Tobago Bureau of
Food Stake- Standards will be hosting a workshop on organic agriculture at the Trinidad and Tobago Bureau of
holder’s Standards, 1-2 Century Drive, Trincity Industrial Estate, Macoya, from 9:00am – 4:00pm. The workshop
Workshop aims to bring together participants involved in various areas of the organic food chain including input
8 Oct 2010 suppliers, producers, processors, researchers as well as individuals involved in marketing and distribution.
Trinidad The main objective:- 1) To identify the critical needs of the organic agri-food sector; 2) To assist the
industry in further exploring or expanding business opportunities; 3) To solicit comments and feedback
from participants on the Code of Practice for Organically Produced Foods; 4) To foster linkages among
stakeholders in the organic agri-food chain.
Sat 09
Sun 10
Also in the month of October: CABI 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: DEADLINE EXTENDED ON UNDP’S REGIONAL CONTEST FOR RURAL INNOVATIVE PROJECTS TO 3RD DECEMBER 2010.

The theme is “Microenterprise Development, Income Generating Activity & Innovation, focusing on Youth Rural enterprises, Micro-credit and
Innovation and Transformation of Agriculture”. The contest is open to all types of organized or registered and rural groups and associations
in the OECS, Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago. Application form can be downloaded from
http://www.bb.undp.org/innovative-projects or copy requested from mario.porchetta@undp.org or by mail to: The Project Coordinator,
CARUTA, UNDP, UN House, Marine Gardens, Hastings, Christ Church, BARBADOS.

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