Between July 20th and 24th, the Government of Argentina and the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation in Agriculture (IICA), will launch in Roseau, an innovative triangular cooperation project, aimed at assisting Dominican beekeepers and other stakeholders of the honey production sector.
This joint initiative, in collaboration with the ministries of Agriculture and Foreign Affairs of Dominica, includes site visits to apiaries, both on the West and East coasts, as well as a series of training workshops by Argentine experts Liliana Gallez and Elian Tourn, who will travel to the island for this important event.
IICA, a leader in Apiculture in the Caribbean with several projects in the region based on the installation of the Argentine “Perone Hive”, partnered up with the Embassy of Argentina in Bridgetown to help develop a local industry with great potential in terms of socio-economic benefits, particularly for rural communities.
Argentine Ambassador Gustavo Martinez Pandiani said that “I believe this is a great opportunity for Dominica to reinforce its new paradigm of resilience and sustainable development, while creating new job opportunities for the youth and women. The island has a vast potential for Apiculture given its rich diversity in flora and fauna”.
Meanwhile, IICA Representative Ena Harvey recalled that the Inter-American agency supported the restoration of honey production after Hurricane Maria, specifically through strengthening Dominican beekeepers cooperatives. She further identified possible areas of assistance such as product development, value added sub-products chain, queen rearing and hive management.
The overall objective of ApiCaribe is to develop apiculture as an integrated farming practice which promotes scientific beekeeping, and enhances the productivity of crops through pollination, while increasing the income and welfare of farmers and the wider society.
The expected benefits of this triangular project for Dominica are:
- better utilization of biodiversity resources,
- sustainable land management,
- development of an “apitourism niche” and
- positioning of local honey as an authentic organic product.
Together with the vast experience of IICA, Argentina brings to the Caribbean its history as a honey production world leader. The South American country is today the third largest exporter of natural honey in the world, with an estimated US$200 million honey sales.
For further information please contact Mr. Bryan Bertrand (245 3683, 615 8345, 266 4415)
