Technical specialist brings 25 years’ experience to help address SVG’s agriculture challenges 

By Admin. Updated 9:59 a.m., Thursday, September 18, 2026, Atlantic Standard Time (GMT-4). 

A former senior agriculture official with more than 25 years of experience in the sector is bringing his knowledge and practical understanding of farming issues to the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), as the organisation seeks to strengthen support for agriculture in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

Rohan Mc Donald officially assumed duties as IICA’s new Technical Specialist in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines on September 1, following a lengthy career with the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Transformation, where he most recently served as Deputy Chief Agricultural Officer.

During his time at the Ministry, Mc Donald also served as an Agricultural Diversification Officer and gained experience in stakeholder engagement, project implementation, youth involvement in agriculture and initiatives aimed at improving productivity.

His move to IICA brings first-hand knowledge of the opportunities and challenges facing the country’s agricultural sector.

Mc Donald said his years within the Ministry shaped his approach to development, particularly the need to ensure that policies and plans deliver meaningful results for people on the ground.

“The experience that I have had in the Ministry of Agriculture has made me aware that what looks good on paper doesn’t necessarily be the same thing on the ground,” he said.

In his new role, Mc Donald will work alongside the Ministry of Agriculture, farmers and other stakeholders to strengthen collaboration and support efforts to address key issues affecting the sector.

Among the priority areas he identified are increasing the participation of young people and women in agriculture, improving resilience to climate change, boosting productivity, strengthening market access and supporting the growth of agricultural businesses.

Mc Donald said he also intends to build on the partnerships and initiatives established by his predecessor, Michael Dalton, while further strengthening IICA’s relationship with farmers, government agencies and other sector stakeholders.

For the new technical specialist, the true measure of success will be the impact on farmers and their families.

“If we are able to see positive increase in productivity, which would naturally lead to higher incomes to the families and increasing livelihoods and improvement in youth participation in agriculture, where they can see a future in agriculture, that will be successful,” he said.

As part of his introduction to the role, Mc Donald was presented to key government and agricultural stakeholders during meetings hosted last week by IICA Representative for the Eastern Caribbean States Gregg Rawlins.

The engagements included meetings with Minister for Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Transformation Hon. Israel Bruce; Minister for Fisheries, Marine and Land Conservation and Climate Resilience Hon. Conroy Huggins; and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade, Foreign Investment and Diaspora Affairs Hon. Fitzgerald Bramble.

Representatives from agricultural and fishing groups also participated in the discussions, which highlighted IICA’s continued commitment to supporting sustainable agricultural development in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

Rawlins welcomed Mc Donald’s appointment, noting that his technical background and extensive experience in agriculture will support IICA’s continued delivery of assistance to the farming community.

With agriculture facing ongoing challenges, including climate change impacts, productivity concerns and the need to attract more young people into the sector, Mc Donald’s appointment comes as IICA seeks to deepen its support for national agricultural development.

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