The Tribune

By Fay Simmons

Tribune Business Reporter

jsimmons@tribunemedia.net

The Prime Minister yesterday said The Bahamas and wider Caribbean are half-way towards achieving their goal of reducing food imports by 25 percent come 2025.

Speaking at the opening of the Caribbean Week of Agriculture, Philip Davis KC said the number of persons in the region facing food insecurity has decreased over the past year with the Caribbean “well on our way” to reducing food imports and creating a sustainable agriculture industry.

He added: “In the past year, the percentage of people facing food security issues has decreased. And we are well on our way to achieving the goal of reducing regional food imports by 25 percent by 2025. In fact, collectively, we have achieved 50 percent of this ambitious target.

“This represents a great stride forward when it comes to feeding ourselves and creating a sustainable agriculture industry. We have learned from the challenges of the past few years and have emerged more resilient and purpose-driven than ever.”

Mr Davis explained that The Bahamas and other Caribbean states have launched initiatives to invest in land, infrastructure and research for agricultural purposes in an attempt to boost the sector and become more self-sufficient.

He said: “Here in The Bahamas, we are making unprecedented investments in food production and food security in the form of climate, land and research grants, and the provision of infrastructural support through packing houses, abattoirs and other publicly-funded facilities. We also have plans to drive a domestic takeover of egg production with long-term goals of targeting the lucrative poultry market.

“Countries like Belize are investing in significantly boosting agricultural production. In St Vincent and the Grenadines, the innovative OECS (Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States)n Agricultural Competitiveness Project linked domestic farms to opportunities within the local tourism market. In Jamaica, the work continues to expand and diversify food exports. And many others throughout the region are following suit.”

Jomo Campbell, minister of agriculture and marine resources, told the same conference that climate change has negatively impacted the agriculture sector. He called for more sustainable strategies to promote regional economic growth.

“Climate change continues to be a crucial threat to the world’s agriculture sector, and unpredictable financial conditions are often passed down to consumers. I believe a common goal that we must share is a sustainable strategy to empower our farmers to grow more food. Through our efforts, it is possible to make real and steady progress to reduce our imports by 25 percent by 2025,” he said.

“There’s no denying that we’re seeing more severe storms and more extreme high temperatures. And so, we must prepare today for tomorrow’s threats. We are in need of new, out-of-the box thinking and solutions. It will take unprecedented efforts on our part, but together we can brainstorm sustainable strategies to transform our food systems.

“We can utilise strategies such as precision agriculture techniques, remote sensing technologies and data analytics so that we can optimise resource utilisation and improve crop yields, all while minimising environmental impacts. Embracing these innovations will not only increase our productivity but also position our farmers as leaders in the global marketplace.”

Mr Campbell said that by diversifying the range of products provided in the region, the Caribbean can lower the amount of goods imported and create a positive socio-economic effect.

He said: “The Bahamas’ [food] import bill continues to hover around 90 per cent, a challenge shared by many Caribbean countries. However, by diversifying our agricultural production and promoting the cultivation of nutritious, locally-grown crops, we can enhance our food security, improve public health and stimulate economic growth within our region.

“We must also remember to engage our youth to provide them with opportunities to contribute, and provide our nations with diverse and fresh perspectives on how to achieve our goals. The Caribbean holds immense potential in agriculture.”