Brazilians seeking more agricultural ties to Cuba

Brazilians seeking more agricultural ties to Cuba



CUBA STANDARD — A technical mission from the Brazilian cattle, dairy and

rice state of Río Grande do Sul is on a one-week visit in Cuba.



The Brazilian delegation, led by the state's agricultural research

institute Fepagro, is in Cuba to "sign institutional agreements, start

pilot projects for production and training, and plan future activities

in each area," a Fepagro spokeswoman said. The rice agreements cover

germplasm, genetic improvements, seed quality control, post-harvest

treatment and storage, according to official daily Granma. The visit is

part of a decentralized cooperation program under the auspices of the

European Union.



As part of the one-year agreement, 10 Cuban experts spent 53 days in Río

Grande do Sul earlier this year to study dairy, rice, fruit and

vegetable production techniques. In return, the Brazilians are seeking

Cuban expertise in ecological agriculture. One of the projects the

Brazilians are pursuing is the installation of agricultural "bio plants"

in Río Grande and the creation of a bilateral post-graduate university

course on agro-ecology.



The delegation includes executives with the state's ministry of

solidarity and support of small business, the Río Grande Rice Institute

(Irga), and the Río Grande Association of Technical Assistance and Rural

Extension (Emater).



Brazil's agriculture research institute Embrapa is cooperating with Cuba

on half a dozen projects, including one on soy and corn production, one

to diversify sugar production, one on development and know-how transfer

in biological pest control, and one on reducing heavy metals in

agricultural products. All projects are funded by Brazil's foreign-aid

agency ABC (Agência Brasileira de Cooperação).



Brazil turned into an agro-business powerhouse over the past two

decades; the country is considered the world leader in tropical agriculture.



A year ago, Brazil signed a memorandum of understanding for a $200

million loan from Brazil to fund Mais Alimentos Cuba, a food safety

program on the island. Started in 2008, Mais Alimentos is designed to

strengthen family farming and bolster food production. The $200 million

loan will allow some of the more than 170,000 private farmers in Cuba to

buy Brazilian-made tractors and other equipment, and help them benefit

from Brazilian training and technology transfer.



In addition, Brazil is providing Cuba a rotating credit facility of $400

million for food purchases in the South American country.



Also in 2012, Brazil's Grupo Odebrecht formed a joint production

agreement with state company Azcuba to operate a sugar mill in the

province of Cienfuegos.



This entry was posted on Tuesday, September 3rd, 2013 at 11:50 am



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