A passion for agriculture

It’s as simple, or as complex as that, depending on  where you stand on the multi-faceted subject of agriculture.

For Dr. Arlington Chesney, who demits office yearend as Executive Director of the Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI), the declaratory statement was how he responded to a query about what drove and sustained his passion for agriculture for more than four decades. The simplicity of the statement just about summed up the man: down-to-earth, helpful to a fault, as witty as they come, highly knowledgeable and experienced.

Even though he is demitting office, his passion will be sustained as he will continue to offer his expertise and advice to the agriculture sector as the Region moves to accomplish the targets it has set itself.

Dr. Chesney, one of the main architects of the Caribbean Week of Agriculture which is held each year, provided some insight into how the concept was developed into the premier agricultural event on the Region’s annual calendar. His exemplary service to the Caribbean was lauded during the recently concluded 13th Caribbean Week of Agriculture held in Paramaribo, Suriname.

Despite  the progress achieved over the years, challenges still remain in the sector and Dr. Chesney highlighted some of them, including the key binding constraints, and getting the media more interested in the sector.