Prospective Agricultural Technologies as solutions of Climate Change Workshop by Carol-Faye Bynoe-George

A training workshop organized by JICA, the Global Agricultural Crossroad Terrakoya Inc. Ltd and other related organizations under International Cooperation Programme of the Government of Japan was recently held in Japan during 13th May to 12th June at the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Tsukuba International Centre.
Successful participants were selected after submitting a written report prior the commencement of the training. We are happy to announce that Mrs. Maud Vere Bradford, Head of the Crop Research Division in the Ministry of Agriculture was one of the successful candidates and represented the Ministry of Agriculture and the nation of Antigua and Barbuda. Joining Mrs. Bradford were participants from Ethiopia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Mauritius, Philippines, Tanzania and Turkey.

Participants were able to obtain knowledge of specific adaptation/ mitigation measures that can be implemented in the field of Agriculture and formulate action plans to promote them by utilizing the prospective agricultural technologies as a solution for Climate Change. The programme consisted of an online component and a face-to-face component. Sessions were delivered in classroom, field visits, study tours and practical activities on climate change IPPC assessment and Global Actions, Approaches to climate change and Adaptation and Mitigation Measures.

Mrs. Bradford expressed her thanks for being nominated to attend the programme and reported that the course was very intense, expanded her knowledge in climate change and encouraged her to appreciate the trend of Japan’s agriculture and understand the various mitigation and adaptation efforts in response to climate change. She also noted that the knowledge obtained from the training would enable her to create a substantial action plan for Antigua and Barbuda for implementation in the Ministry’s work programme.

“The course allowed meaningful communication among other participants, which would be further strengthened establishing long term contact mechanism for future technical assistance and collaboration in promoting the agricultural, scientific and technological cooperation between Japan, JICA and Antigua and Barbuda”, Mrs. Bradford explained.

Based on her total enthusiasm, interaction and involvement throughout the entire month and for all the course’s applications Mrs. Bradford was selected by her peers and facilitators to delivered the closing remarks/ address on behalf of the participants at the closing ceremony.