A five-member delegation from Antigua and Barbuda departed yesterday for China to participate in the Seminar on Demonstration and Promotion of New Vegetable Varieties and Cultivation Technology for Developing Countries.

The training, scheduled to run from August 22 to September 4, 2025, is being hosted by the Anhui Institute of International Business in Hefei, Anhui Province. The program brings together 30 participants from various developing countries and aims to strengthen knowledge exchange on modern agricultural practices, particularly in the area of vegetable cultivation and technology.

During the two-week seminar, participants will engage in a mix of classroom lectures, field visits, and cultural exchanges. Topics include advances in vegetable breeding, disease management, molecular marker applications, post-harvest technologies, and biotechnological research in horticulture. The program also features on-site visits to research institutes, seed companies, and modern agricultural parks in Beijing, Langfang (Hebei Province), and Hefei.

Beyond academic training, the seminar emphasizes cultural immersion, with delegates scheduled to experience Chinese heritage sites such as the Temple of Heaven, the Great Wall, and the Bird’s Nest National Stadium.

The Anhui Institute of International Business, the organizer of the seminar, has a strong track record of delivering international training programs. Since 2013, the Institute has hosted more than 50 foreign-aid training sessions under the Ministry of Commerce in China, training over 1,200 officials and technical personnel from across the developing world.

The Antigua and Barbuda team’s participation underscores the country’s continued commitment to strengthening its agricultural sector through innovation and international collaboration. With a focus on modern cultivation techniques, this training is expected to support efforts to boost food security, improve crop yields, and encourage sustainable farming practices back home.