Taiwan Ambassador to St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Fiona Huei-Chun Fan has handed over four chilling rooms, four washing and grading machines, four chamber vacuum sealers, and two tractors, among other equipment, to the Ministry of Agriculture.
Minister of Agriculture Saboto Caesar accepted the donation under the “Improving Vegetable Cultivation Management and Post-Harvest Handling Project”.
These machines will be used at the agricultural centres in Orange Hill, La Croix, Langley Park and Lauders.
The project was launched shortly after Fan began her tour of duty two years ago, aiming to introduce modern solutions and enhance efficiency through Taiwan’s agricultural experience.
With upgraded facilities, advanced machinery, and specialised training, St. Vincent and the Grenadines has enhanced its post-harvest handling capacity, ensuring higher quality and a more consistent supply of key crops such as cabbage, tomatoes, sweet peppers, and cucumbers, the Taiwan embassy said in a press release.
Capacity-building was the cornerstone of the initiative, and the ministry and the Taiwan Technical Mission conducted nine training workshops and 11 field demonstrations, equipping hundreds of farmers with practical skills in cultivation, packaging, and post-harvest handling. Farmers were also trained in the operation and maintenance of the new equipment to ensure long-term sustainability.
“Taiwan is proud to stand with SVG in championing youth empowerment. For the next stage, both governments will focus on the Young Farmers’ Training Project,” the embassy said.
“This initiative will introduce 75 young farmers to advanced smart-agriculture techniques, including IoT Solution, plant factories, greenhouses and vertical cultivation. Ambassador Fan encouraged the young agriculture enthusiasts to seize the opportunity to participate in this transformation and to help build a sustainable and thriving society.”
Caesar expressed gratitude for Taiwan’s long-standing support and highlighted his vision for advancing agricultural development, with a focus on strengthening food security, boosting local production, and improving livelihoods across SVG.
He expressed his hope that the nation’s agriculture will thrive, building greater resilience, establishing sustainable market mechanisms, and creating an enabling and rewarding environment for young farmers.
Chief of the Taiwan Technical Mission, Kevin Lin thanked the Ministry of Agriculture, TaiwanICDF, CARDI, IICA, the World Bank, and the World Vegetable Centre for their dedication and hard work.
“Together, we are laying the foundation for a healthier, happier, and more prosperous future for both countries,” he said.
During the handover ceremony in North Union, many farmers expressed their appreciation to Fan for Taiwan’s steadfast support and dedication.
“Taiwan and SVG enjoy enduring relationships rooted in shared values, mutual respect and a deep commitment to the well-being of our people,” the release said.
It is concerning that SVG continues to require agricultural aid from Taiwan. Under Minister Saboto Caesar’s leadership, the agricultural sector has significantly underperformed, making his tenure arguably the least effective in the ministry’s history.
Saboto is minister of Windward constituencies. He’s not the Agricultural Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Hr grabs his cutlass and heads up the hills, all on the Windward side of the island, where the holds the most seats.