Seychelles and Cuba revive ties in agriculture |22 November 2013

The Minister for Natural Resources Peter Sinon recently made an official visit to Cuba, where he and his Cuban counterpart, Gustavo Rodriguez Rollero, agreed to revive bilateral cooperation through a memorandum of understanding between the two ministries.

During a meeting with Minister Rollero, the Seychelles delegation was briefed on Cuba’s agricultural production system, the difficulties encountered and progress made thus far.
 
Mr Rollero explained the different phases of reforms being undertaken to be able to adjust to the new economic realities.

He also enlightened the delegation on the recent political decisions taken by Congress emphasising on the following:

• Development of human capacity;

• Put in place the basic system of agricultural production units;

• Improvement in livestock genetic resources (beef, pork and poultry);

• Guarantee food to all;

• Re-distribution of agricultural land (state sub-divide agricultural land to lease to farmers).

Minister Rollero also gave details about the different strategies being adopted to achieve healthy, nutritious food security.

Minister Sinon briefed his Cuban counterpart on the background of agriculture in Seychelles and its present status.
 
He explained the achievements of the 2008 economic reform and the new initiatives to revive the agricultural sector, including the different initiatives to reinvest in the sector from Ifad (International Fund for Agricultural Development) and AfDB (African Development Bank).

He also informed his host about the Comprehensive Africa Agricultural Development Programme (CAADP) initiative that has already reached the stage of the development of investments programme in Seychelles.

As a result of the meeting between the two ministries both agreed to:

• Revive the bilateral cooperation through an MoU between the two ministries;

• Provide Seychelles with specialist and technical assistance from Cuba in different fields of agriculture, such as agronomists, veterinary doctors, plant pathologists, entomologists;

• Provide short-term training /attachments for Seychellois technicians at the INIFAT (organic culture and urban agriculture);

• Introduce organic products (bio-pesticides and bio-fertilisers) to Seychelles agriculture

• Exchange of plant genetic material of vegetables, fruits and root crops;

• Provide high level training (university  and post graduate level);

• Introduce new management models services (e.g. hatchery, abattoir and animal feed);

• Introduce a marketing system where farmers concentrate on production only and marketing is done by other organisations;

• Enhance agricultural research and development;

• Share experiences in accessibility of productive farmers to credit facilities for production.

Minister Sinon also met the Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, with whom he introduced and discussed the concept of the ‘Blue Economy’.

The delegation also visited different agricultural and fisheries related institutions which included the Biofarm institute which manufactures and exports bio products ( e.g. biorat and bactivet used to control rats and mosquitoes respectively).

They also visited the Central Veterinary Institute which is structured to include the entire national, provincial and municipal veterinary institutes.
 
Minister Sinon briefed his Cuban counterpart on the veterinary services in Seychelles and the strategy to continue provide this vital service mainly to the livestock subsector, outlining our weaknesses and the need to improve the services we provide to farmers. Following the discussions, both parties agreed to collaborate in the following:

• Diagnosis of animal (livestock) diseases;

• Technical assistance through qualified specialists especially in laboratory service;

• Attachment of Seychellois technicians to the lab;

• Specialists from Cuba to evaluate the Seychelles veterinary situation and to advise on the setting up of the new Vet Laboratory and clinic.

Subsequently, the delegation visited the INIFAT (Institute of Tropical Agricultural Research). This institute has as strategy to develop intensive urban agriculture (fruit and vegetable

production in limited areas) especially for production of vegetable and leafy crops. This strategy is in line with the food for all policy. It is a controlled environment and intensive crop production system.

Another visit was also conducted to the Fisheries Research Centre, where the delegation was briefed on research activities being carried out by the institute.

Emphasis is being laid on sustainable management of lobster, marine shrimps and sea cucumber harvesting and eventually production.

The centre concentrates mainly on aquaculture production of which information and data are provided to aquaculture fish producers for local production as well as for export.

Other activities of the centre include:

• Production of fish quality for export;

• Technical service for fish processing entrepreneurs;

• Management of water quality control in aquaculture;

• Act as focal points for fisheries data;

• Scientific publications and information;

• Provide technical courses in marine biology and chemistry;

• Entertain university and post graduate studies in marine biology and fisheries science.

Both parties agreed to cooperate through an MoU in the context of mariculture and aquaculture, technical training for technicians in aquaculture and middle level technicians in aquaculture.

Short-term exchange attachments of technical staff for aquaculture and fisheries staff were also deemed a possibility.

Possibilities for Seychellois following high level post graduate scientific training in the ‘Blue Economy’ was also discussed.

 Another interesting visit was also conducted to an organoponic farm to illustrate that if well planned, organic agriculture is very possible and cost effective.

Most probably this is where we (in Seychelles) have the comparative advantage and can over time develop a competitive advantage.

It was agreed to develop collaboration in that domain, particularly in training and capacity building. Specialists in that domain could assist us in setting up model farms in organic agriculture and train local technicians in the concept and practical side of the operations.

While in Havana, Minister Sinon and his delegation didn’t miss the chance to also meet Seychellois students studying medicine and one post grade student in the field of agriculture.

Minister Sinon’s delegation included Marc Naiken, chief executive officer of the Seychelles Agricultural Agency and Finley Racombo, chief executive officer of the Seychelles Fishing Authority.