The Minister of Agricultural Development, Augusto Valderrama, called for unity, work and solidarity to guarantee the well-being and peace of the peoples, when he was sworn in as president of the International Regional Committee for Agricultural Health (CIRSA), a body rector of the Regional International Organization for Agricultural Health (OIRSA).
Valderrama received the position from his counterpart, the Minister of Agriculture and Livestock of Costa Rica, Renato Alvarado.
The transfer of the presidency of CIRSA, which occupies the highest hierarchical step in OIRSA, took place during the 69th Ordinary Meeting of the Committee, which takes place on March 27 and 28, 2022 in Panama City; and was attended by the Ministers and Secretaries of Agriculture and Livestock of nine countries: Mexico, Central America and the Dominican Republic.
In his speech, the head of the Mida portfolio asked for the unity, work and brotherhood of the peoples, since the region is small, but with a great capacity for struggle and history; and one of the most affected by the atmospheric effects of climate change. In addition, they are fighting together to find systems that allow food to be produced and the social conditions that guarantee peace and stability, preventing governments, products of hunger, poverty and drug trafficking, from becoming failed governments.
He stressed that this is a space of the highest level, for the nine countries, to be gathered in this one-year inauguration on the part of Panama, representing the National Government of the President of the Republic Laurentino Cortizo Cohen and the Ministry of Agricultural Development .
He added that assuming the presidency is a great responsibility and that he takes it with a clear decision to fight for the welfare of animal and plant health in the region, and thus be up to the times that the world is going through.
He said that the animal and plant health of our countries is fundamental and strategic, since it guarantees the work of rural people, preventing diseases from entering our countries, limiting international trade.
The Ministers of Agriculture and Livestock of the region expressed their congratulations to Valderrama and wished success in his management, indicating all the willingness to share experiences and the necessary support to improve the phytosanitary and animal health status of the region.
“Crop and animal pests and diseases do not distinguish borders, they move throughout the region. The OIRSA was born as a result of a devastating outbreak of the flying locust from Mexico to Panama, because it was necessary to stop the advance of the plague, this is how efforts have been contributed for more than 68 years”, specified, for his part, the executive director of OIRSA, Efraín Measure.
CIRSA is made up of the Secretaries and Ministers of Agriculture and Livestock of Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama and the Dominican Republic. CIRSA makes binding decisions and issues fundamental guidelines and mandates for the benefit of agricultural health in the region.
Minister Valderrama will hold the presidency of CIRSA for one calendar year -until March 2023-. According to figures from international organizations, in Mesoamerica, the annual losses in crops, caused by sanitary problems, are between 20% and 40%.
