On Tuesday, Dr. Carla Barnett, the Secretary-General of CARICOM, emphasized the growing financial investments that governments are directing towards the agricultural sector. This initiative aims to enhance food production within the region and decrease reliance on food imports. Dr. Barnett made these remarks during an engaging session with young agricultural stakeholders at the ongoing 18th Caribbean Week of Agriculture (CWA), hosted at The University of the West Indies Open Campus in Kingstown, St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
“Since the Region has been focusing on the 25 by 2025 [Initiative], we are, in fact, seeing governments allocating increased amounts in their budgets to support agriculture. The agriculture ministries have received additional funding, whether it’s funding for extension services or for training. What it means is that our governments are agreeing that we need to do more to produce food because in times of emergency, we need to be, at minimum, able to feed ourselves,” she said.
The session, titled “From Talk to Action: Young People Championing Regional Food Systems,” also featured contributions from Ambassador David Prendergast, the Director of Sectoral Programmes, and Ms. Milagro Matus, the Deputy Programme Manager for Agricultural and Agro-Industrial Development at the CARICOM Secretariat. The discussion was led by representatives from the Youth Advisory Body and focused on fostering a supportive environment for youth in agriculture, enhancing the value of Caribbean agricultural products through agro-processing, and nurturing the next generation of farmers.
Ms. Matus conveyed the CARICOM Secretariat’s commitment to encouraging the participation of both youth and women in the agricultural landscape of the region.
She reflected on the previous CWA held in The Bahamas in 2023, where Dr. Barnett urged young individuals to assert their voices, embrace leadership roles, and drive transformative changes within the agricultural sector. The call to action included the necessity for a strategic plan to propel agricultural advancement in the Caribbean.
“Our motivation is straightforward: your views are important! You represent the future of our Region. Your generation will step into leadership roles within the Community,” she said.
CARICOM must have sound agricultural policies in place,
There are forces working to feed you processed foods and take your money and people along. Evidence shows on your store shelves. You must follow the wicked ‘fair trade’ rules of the WTO, and eventually, by design, you lose the ability to feed yourselves as has already begun in Africa.