Otero calls on Latin American leaders to adopt sound national agricultural policies
Lima, 14 April 2018 (IICA). The Director General of the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), Manuel Otero, who is currently in Lima participating in the VIII Summit of the Americas, stressed the urgency of formulating sound national agriculture policies, and called on the hemisphere’s leaders to place the rural sector at the heart of the development agenda.
“Extremely evolved countries - information and knowledge societies – have all developed successful strategies for agricultural and rural development, and that has allowed them to progress. Our countries need to complete this process, and we should therefore recognize the tremendous importance of devising national agricultural policies”, said Otero in the Peruvian capital, where he gathered with heads of state and government at the inauguration of the hemispheric meeting.
“If we seek harmonious and integrated development in our countries, we should give the agriculture sector priority in national agendas”, added the head of IICA”, which is a regional body that promotes rural development.
Otero indicated that “IICA is appealing to governments to put in place national policies, and to adopt a medium and long term vision that recognizes that in order to prioritize agriculture, rural areas must be considered as living spaces that encourage progress, and guarantee environmental sustainability and food security.” He also stated that a booming agriculture sector will enable countries to “tackle many of the key issues that are preventing our region from taking off.”
In Lima, Otero also attended the entrepreneurship forum, organized by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the Government of Peru, where he held discussions with private and public sector leaders.
While at the Summit, IICA’s head agreed on a joint working agenda with the Andean Community (CAN) that will help to boost trade in family farm products.
After attending the regional meeting, IICA’s Director General will visit Chile, at the invitation of the Chilean authorities, where he has a working agenda in Santiago and in the Araucanía region.
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José Alfredo Alpízar
Press and Outreach Coordinator