By Robert Andre Emmanuel
Seventy-five local farmers and agricultural personnel have successfully completed an intensive month-long training programme in hybrid pepper breeding and cultivation.
The diverse group of participants included representatives from the Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda, Defence Force, local schools, government agricultural stations, senior technicians from the Ministry of Agriculture, NGO personnel, and education officials and teachers.
The course, which concluded yesterday at the Villa Polytechnic Clinic, was conducted by Yuan Longping High-Tech Agriculture Company, a leading Chinese agricultural company specialising in crop breeding and hybrid seed technology.
Speaking at the closing ceremony, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture Walter Christopher expressed hope that the training could increase crop yield, leading to the agricultural sector’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) contribution moving from 2 to 5 percent over the next five years.
“We might not reach tourism’s 62 percent, but moving from 2 to 5 percent will require substantial work,” Christopher told attendees.
The comprehensive training programme, organised by Chief Extension Officer Olowabi Elabanjo, covered various aspects of pepper production, including seedling cultivation, high-yield methods, greenhouse farming, and pest management.
Practical components were carried out at the Greencastle station, with sessions combining both theoretical and hands-on training from a team of 10 Chinese agricultural experts, including Mr Huang Yanwu in vegetable cultivation technologies and Dr Miao Wu in pepper breeding.
Governor General Sir Rodney Williams and Sandra Lady Williams attended the ceremony, along with Chinese Ambassador to Antigua and Barbuda, Zhang Yangling.
In his remarks, the Governor General spoke to the ability of agriculture to be an economic boost to individuals and the need to see positive results stemming from the training received.
Meanwhile, Chinese Ambassador Zhang highlighted the growing cooperation between the two nations, which celebrated 41 years of diplomatic relations last year, noting how Antigua and Barbuda continues to develop with the support of the People’s Republic of China.
Manager of International Training Centre at Yuan Longping, Chen Xiaoliang, who managed the training programme, announced that participants might have the opportunity to visit China next year for advanced training.
The graduates will be expected to share their knowledge with other local farmers, creating a multiplier effect that could boost the nation’s pepper production capacity.
One of the participants, Dennis Seon who is the Managing Director of Nice FM, highlighted the programme’s focus on scientific and technological approaches, particularly in addressing climate change challenges.
He noted that participants learned hybridisation techniques as a solution to declining bee populations and emphasised the potential to reduce the country’s US $400 million food import bill.
Seon also connected local agriculture to public health, stating that locally grown produce could help to curb health challenges faced by residents.
