Barbados’ Minister of Agriculture, Food, and Nutrition Security, Indar Weir, has highlighted the critical challenges facing the agricultural sector across the Americas. Speaking in a recent press release, Weir emphasized the indispensable role of the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) in addressing these issues. He expressed strong support for Guyana’s Muhammad Ibrahim as the ideal candidate to lead IICA in its mission to enhance food security, environmental sustainability, and rural development across the region.
Weir underscored the importance of IICA’s technical support in improving natural resource protection and facilitating access to innovative technologies—areas where many nations in the Americas require assistance. He stated, ‘Cooperation is essential to continue our path of improvement; for some of our countries, it is the only way out.’ Weir’s endorsement of Ibrahim, a seasoned scientist with over three decades of experience in international agriculture, reflects confidence in his vision and leadership capabilities.
Ibrahim’s candidacy for the Director General position, proposed by Guyanese President Mohammed Irfaan Ali, has garnered unanimous support from the 14 member countries of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). Weir noted that Ibrahim’s extensive technical expertise and leadership skills set him apart from other contenders, including Fernando Mattos from Uruguay and Laura Suazo from Honduras. The final decision will be made during the Inter-American Board of Agriculture (IABA) sessions in Brazil from November 3 to 5.
In his article titled ‘It Is the Time for Agriculture; It Is the Time of the Caribbean,’ Weir outlined the pressing needs of the continent’s agricultural sector, including improved production efficiency, conservation efforts, pest control, and sustainable livestock practices. He emphasized IICA’s pivotal role in fostering consensus on strategic agricultural issues and expressed optimism that Ibrahim’s leadership would advance the institute’s mission of promoting agricultural progress and rural prosperity across the Americas.