Hunan Provincial Government launches Hunan-Barbados Agricultural Technical Cooperation Project

Project narrative

In November 2022, the Hunan Provincial Government and the Government of Barbados officially launched the Hunan-Barbados Agricultural Technical Cooperation Project with the goal of helping Barbados become more self-sufficient in terms of food production. The project focused on cooperation in the fields of vegetable varieties screening, vegetable greenhouse construction and technical training. The project was implemented by Hunan Linshi Agricultural Services Company, with support from the Chinese Embassy in Barbados, the Foreign Affairs Office of Hunan Provincial Party Committee, and the Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of Hunan Province. The Hunan Provincial Government and the Government of Barbados had previously signed a memorandum of understanding on agricultural cooperation on April 28, 2021. Under the Hunan-Barbados Agricultural Technical Cooperation Project, Hunan Linshi Agricultural Services Company constructed two greenhouses equipped with drip irrigation systems to cultivate bell peppers, eggplants, cherry radishes, watermelons, prickly cucumbers, melons, luffas, and Chinese cabbages. Then, on April 18, 2023, Hunan Linshi Agricultural Services Company began a planting test for a hybrid type of upland rice better suited to the climate of Barbados. Despite a lack of rainfall during the seedling stage and a lack of herbicides for weed control, on August 10, 2023, 58,62 kg of rice was harvested from the test area. Hunan Linshi Agricultural Services Company expressed interest in expanding the project in the future. As reported in September 2029, the upland rice harvested this time was sown on April 18, with a total growth period of 112 days. The total trial area was 78.2 square meters, with a dry grain yield of 58.62 hectares and a rice yield rate of 62%.