There has not been a substantive analysis of the state of agriculture in the Caribbean since 1981, an oversight that the Study on the State of Agriculture in the Caribbean sought to address. The comprehensive report covers 19 countries and focuses on the region’s low returns in agriculture, unpredictable climate, high imports and declining exports. These uncertainties have also dissuaded the youth from working in the sector, resulting in stagnation and an absence of innovative ideas on how the industry should move forward.
The lack of competitiveness and productivity in the region is highlighted by the report and there is a strong emphasis on the need for agriculture to diversify and embrace new solutions in order to reflect the changing economic and social environment. The report also underlines that there is very much an opportunity for growth in the Caribbean agriculture sector, suggesting improved regulation in agribusiness as one way to spur growth, as well as increasing competition within the agri-food value chain.
A more attractive setting for investors will increase agricultural development, which in turn will help to reduce poverty, the report states. The authors also emphasise the need for development within the aquaculture and fisheries sectors of the Caribbean Sea, where overfishing and natural resource degradation has led to a catch decline of 25% since the 1990s, despite fishing efforts having “almost doubled” since then.
In
summary, Caribbean agriculture needs to be more inclusive, sustainable and
competitive; this report offers the recommendations to make such a vision
obtainable.
Study on the State of
Agriculture in the Caribbean
By FAO and the Caribbean
Development Bank
FAO and CDB, 2019; 212pp.
ISBN 978-92-5131-488-3
In this issue
"Youth should be part of the conversation about rural development"
Assistant vice-president of the strategy and knowledge department of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), Paul Winters, highlights the factors that need to be in place for rural youth to prosper.
Smallholders access the sweet potato snack market
by James Karuga
An agri-processing company in Tanzania producing nutritional, sweet potato-based foods is providing a ready market for local women and young farmers.
Caribbean agriculture revisited
A study on the condition of agriculture in the Caribbean suggests new ways forward.
Building Jamaica’s creditworthiness with blockchain
Pioneering technology in the Caribbean is aiming to help financial institutions make better farming investment decisions in order to provide unbanked farmers with credit.
Making index-based insurance profitable
Tech firms, brokers and insurers are working to make index-based insurance profitable and sustainable without subsidies, by cutting costs, sharing data and improving efficiency.
Digitalising extension: Smart advisory services for farmers
To enable smallholder farmers to improve production, reduce crop loss and ultimately increase productivity, it’s crucial to transform agricultural extension services through impactful decision-support tools and digital know-how.
Transformer les projets en réussites
by Yanne Boloh
Pour qu’un projet d’aide au développement ait un impact positif, y compris dans le secteur de l’agriculture ou de l’agribusiness, certaines conditions doivent être remplies.
New approaches for the future
by James Thorp
Three new reports focus on food systems and production in Africa to achieve food security and end malnutrition and poverty. Digital technologies, better policies and new farming approaches are all highlighted as means to achieve these aims.
Stepping up climate-smart efforts in Malawi
To help the growing number of Malawians effected by droughts, floods and emerging pests and diseases, a climate-resilience project is scaling out tailored weather technologies and advisory services to smallholders.
Nigeria increases tomato paste production with good practices
by Oluyinka Alawode and Sophie Reeve
Nigerian tomato farmers are overcoming production challenges to increase the quality and quantity of their yields, and access a ready market for their produce.
The potential for women to tap into Africa’s free trade area
by Bob Koigi
New initiatives are emerging to empower women traders and entrepreneurs to take advantage of the increased border trade and reduced tariffs as a result of the operationalised Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Groundnut production boosts profits for Zambian farmers
Greater access to improved groundnut seed in Zambia and training in crop management is increasing smallholder productivity and market access in the face of diminishing cotton prices.
“We need a strategy that focuses on the transformation of food systems”
Professor Frederike Praasterink is a lecturer in sustainability and future food systems in the Netherlands. She strongly believes that leadership at the local level is needed in the strategy for transforming food systems.
Vegetable gardens crop up in Trinidad and Tobago
Student entrepreneur, Jameel Phillip is creating adaptable food production systems in the Caribbean by setting up small urban gardens that maximise production using space-saving designs.
Reducing water raises rice yields in Tanzania
After enduring recurring spells of drought, floods and poor harvests, Tanzanian farmers are taking up climate-smart skills to bolster farming efficiency.
“Quality is the key to success!”
Maïmouna Sidibe Coulibaly explains how her company Faso Kaba, which means ‘corn country’ in Bambara, Mali, became one of the leading suppliers of improved seeds adapted to the Sahelian climate.
Kenyan farmers optimise water use with mobile phones
by Bob Koigi and Toby Penrhys-Evans
Remote monitoring of greenhouses is allowing Kenyan smallholders to irrigate their crops from afar and improve their quality of life.
Farmers eyes in the sky in Cote d’Ivoire
Joseph-Oliver Biley founded drone start up WeFly Agri in January 2017 to help farm and plantation owners regain control of their land.
A study on the condition of agriculture in the Caribbean suggests new ways forward.
