SAN JOSE, Costa Rica – Guyanese Muhammad Ibrahim has assumed office as the new Director General of the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), the specialised agency for agriculture with a mission to encourage, promote and support its 34 member states in their efforts to achieve agricultural development and rural well-being through international technical cooperation of excellence.
Cleber Soares, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Livestock of Brazill swears in Muhammad Ibrahim, Director General of IICA.“I accept this tremendous responsibility with gratitude, humility and a profound sense of purpose. I am going to be a Director General for all the Americas, recognizing that we need differentiated strategies for each region of the hemisphere,” said Ibrahim, who boasts extensive experience in agricultural development, international cooperation and public policy.
“I promise to raise the bar of excellence of the Institute even more, to strengthen joint work with the countries and to close the gaps to ensure more sustainable agrifood systems,” Ibrahim told the ceremony attended by ministers and senior officials of more than 30 countries. Watch video
“I will foster an environment in which collaboration, partnerships and technical capacities can flourish, guided by transparency, financial prudence and accountability”, he said, acknowledging the work of his predecessor Manuel Otero, whose tenure had positioned IICA as a benchmark institution in providing technical support for agricultural and rural development in the countries.
Otero said he has had the honour of leading an institution “with history, prestige and a future, that plays a critical role in transforming our countries” underscoring the priority given to farmers and their quality of life in the Institute’s work.
Cleber Soares, who was representing Minister of Agriculture of Brazil and current Chair of IICA’s highest governing body, the Inter-American Board of Agriculture (IABA), Carlos Fávaro, was tasked with swearing in Ibrahim as the new Director General.
Speaking virtually from Georgetown, Guyana’s President Mohamed Irfaan Ali referred to IICA’s “critical role” in generating agricultural value added and supporting development and congratulated his fellow countryman Ibrahim on the responsibility he was assuming.
“Agriculture is the backbone of rural prosperity. It stabilizes our economy, which is why IICA plays such a vital role. I congratulate Muhammad Ibrahim and recognize IICA’s importance as a pillar for development and for strengthening partnerships to achieve a competitive, resilient and sustainable agriculture sector,” Ali said.
Guyana’s Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha, who is also the chair of the Ministerial Task Force on Agriculture of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), congratulated Ibrahim on becoming “the first Guyanese to lead this prestigious institution” and highlighted the fact that “his career, both in our homeland and on this global stage, is a testament to the tremendous potential that exists in our region”.
Mustapha also commended Otero on his tenure adding that the new IICA Director General’s “proven capacity to integrate science, policies and practical actions represents the type of leadership needed to address the complex agricultural and food security scenario”.
A message on behalf of the United States government noted that “IICA delivers tangible results in the hemisphere, strengthening the agrifood systems that support farmers and ranchers, thereby facilitating international trade and enhancing the sovereignty and resilience of its member states.
“During Dr. Otero’s eight-year tenure, relationships and partnerships were strengthened for the benefit of the Western Hemisphere, agriculture was positioned as a strategic sector, and cooperation in the Americas was enhanced based on science and trust”.
Washington said that the challenges facing agriculture today and in the future require a renewed approach.
“Agriculture will need to be viewed as a priority for national security, in order to enhance resilient exports and empower consumers. We look forward to working with Dr. Ibrahim in the Member States to ensure that agriculture remains a pillar for security, prosperity and opportunities. We have the land, the people and the expertise, and when we put farmers first, we win.”
Deputy Secretary of Agrifood Markets at the Secretariat of Agriculture of Argentina, Agustín Tejeda, highlighted Ibrahim’s “professional and technical experience and profound knowledge of the region, which provide a solid foundation for leading IICA during a key phase in which production and international trade must be strengthened.
“At present, agriculture in our region faces the great challenge of improving productivity, advancing toward a more efficient use of inputs and resources, incorporating innovation, and fully capitalizing on the opportunities afforded by international markets.
“Within this context, IICA plays a fundamental role as a technical cooperation agency, assisting countries in designing and implementing science- and evidence-based public policies aimed at reducing costs, eliminating distortions and improving competitiveness”, he added.
