Inter-American Institute for Co-operation on Agriculture IICA

 

Within its broad objectives of assisting agricultural development and improving rural welfare, IICA projects and activities are guided by a regularly updated Medium Term Plan, the most recent of which covers the period 1994-98. The Institute has set as its immediate goal help in making agricultural development sustainable within its member states, and its work will aim to effect change in three aspects of agriculture: production, trade, and institutions. Activities will be focused in four areas of concentration: Socio-Economic Policies, Trade and Investment; Science and Technology, Natural Resources, and Agricultural Production; Agricultural Health; and Sustainable Rural Development.

IICA works in close collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, the National Agricultural Research Institute, the New Guyana Marketing Corporation, the National Dairy Development Programme, and a number of private, regional, bilateral, and international organizations. Technical activities are executed under the direction of a Representative in Guyana and a complement of professionals in the areas of planning, economics, production, agricultural health, agro-forestry, and rural development. IIICA’s annual programme budget is approximately US$0.5 M.

 

 

Current Projects

  1. Planning: This project provides assistance in the execution of surveys, studies, and the generation of sector information to be used for decision making, and project identification and formulation.

  2. Supporting Development of Tropical Fruits in Guyana: This project is designed to strengthen the planning and operational capabilities of national institutions supporting the development of the fruit sub-sector.

  3. Improving Agricultural Health Services in Guyana to Facilitate Trade: This project is designed to improve the capability of the Ministry Of Agriculture to monitor and control the health status of crops and livestock. In April 1996 this project was integrated into the regional project described at # 3

  4. Strengthening Rural Development in Guyana: This project supports the development of a comprehensive and responsive rural development policy. It facilitates the strengthening of management and organizational capabilities in rural areas, and integrates actions which lead to the generation of value-added benefits in the utilization of available resources and the creation of job opportunities. The SubProject

    Strengthening of Amerindian Skills In Community Development, begun in 1994, is funded by UN-IFAD, and promotes the sustainable development of Amerindian communities in Region 2.

 

 

Regional Projects

  1. Hemoparasite Information Network for the Guianas: This project benefits the three Guianas through the collection and exchange of information on livestock hemoparasites.

  2. Engendering Agricultural Competitiveness in CARICOM: This multinational project focuses on strengthening institutional capabilities in the areas of trade negotiations, and policy analysis and planning. Assistance is provided for the establishment and functioning of information systems, and the analysis of the impact of trade liberalization and market opening.

  3. Supporting agricultural Health Services In The Caribbean To Facilitate Production And Trade: This new project will support agricultural health services in meeting the challenges created by trade liberalization and increased competition, while protecting domestic agricultural production from pests and diseases.

  4. Creation and Consolidation of the Cooperative Research and Technology Transfer Programme for the South-American Tropics (PROCITROPICOS): Based in Brazil, this programme develops linkages between the research institutions of countries bordering the Amazon.