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PROCICARIBE
The Agricultural Science and Technology System of the CARIBBEAN

PROCICARIBE, the region's Agricultural Science and Technology Networking, has been designed as an instrument that will provide an institutional framework within which the Caribbean would design and implement strategies for the integration and coordination of agricultural research at the national and regional levels with linkages to international organisations.

Our Goal

To develop a science and technology system, among public and private agricultural entities and NGOs, to support agriculturally based industries attain international competitiveness and the sustainable development of the Caribbean's agricultural sector while ensuring food security, poverty alleviation and environmental sustainability.

Outputs

Governance and Executive Structure

A Board of Governors (BOG) made up of the Ministers of Agriculture of Caribbean Member States is the highest body of PROCICARIBE. An Executive Committee (EC) made up of representatives from each member country, the Co-sponsors CARDI and IICA and the main collaborating Institutions UWI and CARISEC approve the work programmes and budgets of the networks. At the national level a National Coordinating Committee (NCC) sets policy and research priorities.

CARDI is the Executing Agency of PROCICARIBE and as such, administers the Executive Secretariat at its Headquarters. Both IICA and CARDI sponsor the system and provide substantial financial and human resources in ensuring that the various networks, together with their national, regional and institutional structures, operate efficiently and effectively.

The University of the West Indies (UWI) and the CARICOM Secretariat collaborate with CARDI and IICA in managing the system.

PROCICARIBE Networks

The PROCICARIBE Secretariat facilitates the operations of the Networks and makes the relevant linkages to collaborators at the regional and international levels. The basic structure of the Networks is shown below:

[Diagram] - Structure of PROCICARIBE Network e.g. CARIFruit

Each National Network Committee (e.g. National CARIFruit Committee) is headed by a National Coordinator (NC) who ensures the execution of the network's work programme at the country level and represents the Network in the PROCICARIBE National Coordinating Committee (NCC).  NNCs join together at the regional level under the leadership of a Regional Coordinator (RC) who works closely with the PROCICARIBE Secretariat and with a Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) which is a 6 to 8 member technical peer review group that ensures the technical integrity of the network's activities and programmes.

These networks focus on the generation, validation and transfer of technology and information nationally and regionally with links to regional and international strategic alliance partners. Their aim is to improve productivity and marketability within the agricultural sector so as to increase the competitiveness of the region's priority commodities while sustaining the natural resource base.

National Networks join together at the regional level under the leadership of a Regional Coordinator (RC) who works closely with the PROCICARIBE Executive Secretariat and with the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) of the Network, a 6 to 8 member technical peer review group that ensures the technical integrity of the network's activities and programmes.

PROCICARIBE strategies are focused on the development and support of commodity and thematic networks. Regional Networking is necessary whenever national efforts alone are insufficient to solve problems. NARS that recognise clear advantages from networking are required to make firm commitments to ensure timely and efficient execution of the Network's activities. Presently, PROCICARIBE is working with the following regional networks:

Global Linkages

PROCICARIBE is part of a hemispheric and world-wide effort to facilitate cooperation in agriculture. Hemispherically, PROCICARIBE participates in FORAGRO together with PROCIANDINO, PROCISUR, PROCITROPICOS and SICTA. Globally, PROCICARIBE is linked to the Global Forum for Agricultural research GFAR and the NARS Steering Committee in Rome. The Consultative Groups for International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) are strong Strategic Alliance Partners with Caribbean NARS through PROCICARIBE.

CTAS

PROCICARIBE is currently embarking on the establishment of the Caribbean Agricultural Technical Assistance Service (CTAS) which will operate within the PROCICARIBE Secretariat. It has as its main objectives:

The rationale for CTAS is the recognition that there is considerable and varied expertise across a fairly broad span in the Caribbean, that should be utilised for resolving technological difficulties in production, post harvest, marketing and agro-processing in the areas of agricultural enterprises. The kind of service to be provided is short-term and in the nature of a quick response or 'fire-fighting'.

CAIS

Recognising the need to integrate information into development strategies as well as to more clearly define agricultural information needs in the Caribbean, CARDI and the Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (CTA) embarked on a joint programme to establish and operate CAIS. The main objective of CAIS is to develop national and regional capacities in information and communication management. CAIS will be the main information vehicle of the PROCICARIBE system of networks. To date Interim Committees have been formed in several countries. CARDI will continue to work with the countries to provide technical assistance in developing the networks in the months ahead even as funds are being sought to fully implement CAIS. During 1998 and 1999 work on an information inventory will be undertaken. CAIS is developing important linkages with IICA's AgroInfo database system, with EIARD Infosys, and information system of the European Initiative for Agricultural Research for Development and with FAO's information networks.

Members of PROCICARIBE

PROCICARIBE News

is a 4-monthly Newsletter that informs on the activities of the various Networks and their supporting institutions. The Newsletter is distributed to regional and international organisations.  The newsletter content is available on-line.