The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries, Rural Transformation, Industry and Labour hosted a delegation of high ranking engineers from the Moroccan National Institute of Agricultural Research.
The delegation was in the state from Friday 23rd -28th February 2018 to assess the St. Vincent and the Grenadines component of the Caribbean Soil Fertility Mapping project funded by the Government of the Kingdom of Morocco and to exchange information, assess and define the 2018 work plan with officials from the Ministry of Agriculture.
The specific objectives of the project are:
1. Design and develop an information system and soil databases for local and national decision makers;
2. Develop fertilizer recommendations for major crops and establish appropriate fertilizer programs;
3. Elaborate a Geo-referenced soil fertility information and expert system for the country;
4. Enhance human and technical capacity of farmers, extension agents and developers in terms of soil information and fertility monitoring and management;
5. Strengthen the extension system in devising soil fertility and fertilization guidelines for major crops.
Thus far, St. Vincent and the Grenadines have benefited from the receipt and distribution of fertilizers to farmers and the training of the Ministry’s staff in GIS and its application to Soil Fertility Mapping, Fertilizers Calibration Agronomy Trials and Soil and Plant Analysis.
Morrocan Delegation led by Dr. Rachid Mrabet, Research Leader, National Institute of Agricultura Research (INRA), Morocco met with Hon. Minister of Agriculture and staff of the Soils Analysis Laboratory, Plant Protection and Quarantine Unit, Ministry of Agriculture, Campden Park.
