The Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI) new Executive Director, Barton Clarke, is presently visiting St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Clarke’s visit, which runs from September 6th to 9th, seeks to further develop CARDI’s partnership with the government, academic, private and research institutions to strengthen the competitiveness and sustainability of this country’s agricultural sector.

Black Sigatoka and Moko disease in the resurging banana industry, climate change as it relates to root and tuber crops, especially dasheen and sweet potato, two of SVG's major exports, and CARDI’s technical support to the Banana Adjustment Measures Project; will be key areas of discussion during Mr. Clarke’s meeting with the Hon. Saboto Caesar, Minister of Agriculture, Industry, Forestry, Fisheries and Rural Transformation, and senior technical staff of the Ministry.

CARDI is supporting efforts to control the Black Sigatoka Disease, through the CARDI/Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) funded project "Development of an Integrated Disease Management Programme for Black Sigatoka Disease.” Evaluation of banana varieties tolerant to Black Sigatoka Disease (BSD) is underway and a workshop on the “Integrated Disease Management of Black Sigatoka Disease (BSD)” was recently concluded.

CARDI will continue to collaborate with St Vincent and the Grenadines, in its goal to achieving national food and nutrition security.