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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