IICA, CaRAPN AND CTA TAKE A STAND FOR AGRICULTURE – BREEDING AGRI-PRENEURS AND PLANTING AGRI-ENTERPRISES!!!

February 6, 2008

EDWARD HARRIS AT LARGE!

IICA, CaRAPN AND CTA TAKE A STAND FOR AGRICULTURE – BREEDING AGRI-PRENEURS AND PLANTING AGRI-ENTERPRISES!!!

The Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), its partner the Technical Centre for Agriculture and Rural Cooperation (CTA) and jointly sponsored Caribbean Regional Agricultural Policy Network (CaRAPN) hosted a Workshop on “Stimulating Entrepreneurship in Agriculture”, March 3 – 6, 2008 at the Bay Gardens Hotel – Conference Centre, Rodney Bay, Gros Islet.

The main objective of the workshop was to convert ideas into businesses with assistance and support from business development agencies and related service providers. This is the first in a series of three regional workshops on developing entrepreneurship and business in agriculture. Participants and Presenters were drawn from Jamaica to Guyana. Their contributions were very stimulating and as a result have given agriculture and related industries new meaning to many in the audience. Agriculture is alive. It is not dead as many would wish to have us believe. What is necessary is a new mind set, firstly to get an understanding of what is at stake and then to meet the challenges head on with strategies that will bring about the much needed changes in the industry.

Presenters included the following Professionals: Ms. Marcia Brandon, Executive Director, Barbados Youth Business Trust (BYBT), Ms. Jacqueline Emmanuel, Director, Office of Private Sector Relations (OPSR), Mr. Lincoln Price, CRNM, Jamaica, Mr. Titus Preville, Trade Consultant, St. Lucia, Ms. Rachelle Chery, IICA, Haiti, Dr. Basil Springer, Change Agent Consultant, CBET, Barbados, Mr. Alexander Joseph, Credit Union League, St. Lucia, Ms. Hermia Neehall, Executive Director, National Development Foundation, St. Vincent, Ms. Denise Dickson-Cunningham, Product Development & Strategic Alliance Officer, Agricultural Development Bank, Trinidad & Tobago, Mr. Sajjad Hamid, Small Business Development Consultant, Trinidad & Tobago, Carmen Gomez-Trigg, Business Development Consultant, Trinidad & Tobago, Robert Reid, Agri-Business Specialist, Jamaica.

The topics included Food Security Strategy, The roles of Government and Private Sector in Agri-business Development, The Value Chain and Business Opportunities in the EPA, Entrepreneurs, Entrepreneurship and Business Development, Assessment of Business Resource Agencies – Profiles, Best Practices and Recommendations. There were focus discussion groups, 1. Breeding Entrepreneurs, 2. Growing Agri-Enterprises, 3. Teaching Entrepreneurship.

Field Trips were undertaken on Day 3, to two local manufacturing companies, namely: Frootsy Foods Ltd., producer of Fruit Cheese, Sauces, Fruit Cake, Jams, etc., Mon Repos, and Studio Kreativity Inc., producer of Banana Paper Products, Ti Rocher, Micoud. When the two groups reassembled, it was all astonishment as to the success recorded by the operators of the two businesses. Each participant was provided with samples of products produced by both companies. Both companies used farm produce. Frootsy uses, locally grown fruits and seasonings and Kreativity uses the stalk of the banana tree. The Directors of the companies were highly commended for their creativity and perseverance. It was interesting to note their confidence in the future in relation to achieving success for their companies expressed by Mr. Eldon Serieux of Frootsy and Ms. Christine Wilson of Kreativity.

It was all congratulations for the officials of the IICA family, especially in the Trinidad and St. Lucia offices for their dedication in ensuring Agriculture succeeds. Their creative approach applied to the workshop caused the participants to maintain a high level of interest throughout the programme.

The impact of the 4 day workshop on the participants was evident as in the closing session they volunteered to ensure that the group remains in communication with each other and record the progress made along the way.

It is very clear to me that Agriculture has a future even if for our own self interest in securing our food supply, rather than falling into the trap of relying exclusively on outsiders for our food supply. It was encouraging to note the contribution of students to the debate. It was a wonderful Networking Opportunity!

Here is my selected quote for the week:

HAPPINESS IS A BY – PRODUCT OF ACTIVITY
Happiness lies in the joy of achievement,
in the thrill of creative effort.
The human spirit needs to accomplish,
to achieve, to triumph to be happy.
Happiness does not come from doing easy work,
but from the afterglow of satisfaction
that comes after the achievement
of a difficult task that demands your best.
Your personal growth itself contains the seed of happiness.
You cannot pursue happiness by itself.
There is no happiness except in the realization
that you have accomplished something.
Happiness thrives in activity.
Copyright 2008 www.yourdailymotivation.com

I challenge business persons in all the productive sectors that drive the economy to be involved, get to know more about developments in industry as a whole and share your specialized knowledge so that our business community will be better informed. Lots of interesting developments are taking place and with today’s technological advancement the world is at our finger tips. It is my wish that our people will not only survive but become rich in all things. The Visalus Sciences Business Opportunity fever is catching on and there are two meetings scheduled this weekend in the North and South of the island. Test drive the Opportunity, visit http://EdwardHarris.myvisalus.com You will be glad you did. It is necessary in these days to have multiple sources of income, especially those that are global in scope and offer leverage and residual income. You will remember I told you so!

Business Network International (BNI) will host a special Breakfast session on Tuesday, 11th March, 2008 at the Glencastle Hotel, Massade, Gros Islet at 7.00am. Join me for Breakfast.

Keep the Faith, God is in Charge, Dream Big and Expect Miracles all the time!!!

Edward Harris
Biblicist, Freelance Journalist, Author, Business & PR Consultant, Realtor, Sales & Marketing Specialist, Networker, Private Sector Advocate, Motivational Speaker
Email: eaharrisdestiny@gmail.com
Websites: http://www.Edwardharris.ws http://www.stluciasimplybeautiful.com http://www.stluciarealtors.com http://EdwardHarris.myvisalus.com

Comments are closed.