THE Taiwan Technical Mission (TTM) in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Supply and Rural Development recently held its Agri Expo 2024 to celebrate the positive strides made in the local agricultural sector over the past two years.
The all-day Agri Expo was held on Friday, May 31, 2024, in Constitution Park, Castries, under the theme, “Leading the Agricultural Revolution”, and featured booths showcasing fresh produce and value added products for sale. Also on display were small machinery, irrigation systems, and trellising demonstrations. Student entrepreneurs from Vieux Fort Comprehensive Secondary School and Stanley Jon Odlum Memorial Secondary School also showcased their creative culinary talents.
The event gave patrons some insights into the results of years of collaboration between the Taiwan Technical Mission and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Supply and Rural Development, and other stakeholders such as the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation of Agriculture (IICA), Caribbean Agricultural Research & Development Institute (CARDI), World University Service of Canada (WUSC), Saint Lucia Development Bank (SLDB), and Saint Lucia Bureau of Standards (SLBS).
In his brief remarks at the official opening ceremony, H.E. Peter Chia-Yen Chen, Taiwan’s Ambassador to Saint Lucia, said the exhibits, demonstrations, and presentations at the event showcased a myriad of innovations that are shaping the future of agriculture.
“Each innovation represents a step forward in our collective efforts to build a more sustainable, resilient, and more secure food system,” said Ambassador Chen. “In order to achieve this, we cannot forget the stewardship led by Hon. Minister Prospere. His effort in advancing Saint Lucia’s agricultural production is commendable, and we are sincerely grateful for his unwavering support to bilateral agricultural projects. I would also like to thank Hon. Minister Frederick for his support to all the projects between Taiwan and Saint Lucia, from community development to the agricultural industry.”
Hon. Alfred Prospere, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Rural Development, said Government’s goal to increase local production of the selected crops under the project and reducing the island’s high food import bill remain top priorities. He further stated that reducing food importation by 25% by the year 2025 forms an integral part of the project, and that Government will continue to support crop farmers, livestock farmers and agro-processors.
“This Expo is a testament to the hard work and dedication of everyone involved in the Seven Crops Project,” Hon. Prospere said. “From agro-processors to farmers, from Government officials to technical experts, your contributions have been invaluable. I extend my heartfelt thanks to each one of you for your unwavering commitment to this cause.”
He added: “We are deeply grateful to the people of Taiwan for their continued assistance. Their support, through the Taiwan Technical Mission, has been the cornerstone of our success. Their expertise and resources have enabled us to implement cutting-edge practices and technologies that are transforming our agricultural landscape.”
Hon. Richard Frederick, Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister with Responsibility for Housing and Local Government, also offered remarks at the ceremony, stating that Taiwan’s support for Saint Lucia’s socio-economic development has been felt in various areas over the years, including in ICT, agriculture, and many social projects.
“Each and every constituency in this country has felt the influence, benevolence and goodwill of the Taiwanese who assist us without any iota of resentment,” Hon. Frederick said.
In January 2022, the Governments of the Republic of China (Taiwan) and Saint Lucia began implementing the second phase of the “Enhancing the Efficiency of Production-Distribution Supply Chain in Fruit and Vegetable Sector in Saint Lucia” Project, also known as the “Seven Crops Project”. The five-year project, which ends in 2026, aims to promote the diversified production and strengthen the sales and marketing mechanism for local agricultural products.