Targeting exports, alleviating poverty and ensuring food security are among priorities being considered under a proposed action plan for the sustainable development of agriculture within the OECS sub-region and the wider Caribbean.
Under the plan currently being worked on by technical experts meeting in Dominica this week, the islands will be expected to pay greater attention to maximizing agro-tourism linkages and the impact of climate change, while also ensuring that the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States take advantage of the single economic space being established through OECS economic union.
The importance of the exercise was highlighted by Dominica’s Director of Agriculture Ricky Brumant who told his regional counterparts that they should approach the discussions in a manner “that will lead to ensuring that there is relevance on the ground. Discussions that is going to ensure that we bring all resources to bear, and ensuring that our respective countries move forward”.
The Dominica meeting is the continuation of a process which began two years ago.
The consultative process has the endorsement of O.E.C.S Ministers of Agriculture and the O.E.C.S Authority.
According to the Government Information Service here, the action plan being finalized in Dominica will be presented to the next meeting of the authority scheduled for May this year in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
An action plan for sustainable development of agriculture in the sub-region is a great idea.
Yet we should be asking, do the experts have a commitment from their respective governments to put the plan into action? Are governments in the region prepared to make available the resources required to put he plan into action? Is agricultural development a high priority in the sub-region?
The answers to those questions may well determine whether the plan will bear any fruit.
That’s a beautful stall. Whoever decorated it is very creative and talented.
This sounds good but I agree unless you visit the farmer and his garden you are just giving lip service. I think the Gov. should provide trucks to help local farmers get his crop to Roseau and Portsmouth. They could pay a small fee to provide gas and maintain the vehicle. I have watched the farmers they work hard and help each other. The buses don’t like to pick up a heavy load with a person covered in perspiration. God bless the farmer without them what would you eat and drink? Busta and Crix no doubt.
Institutes and organisationS for Aagriculture is fine ,but unless we take hands on action in the fields we are not geting any where ;unless we move out of the office or cars and get our hands and clothes dirty with cutlass and forks we will not get there.
What about Agricultural Education at the technical school with a plantation or farming interest where students can actually practice agro business.
what about purchasing outlets where farnmers can sell to organisations like the marketing board the same way they sell bananas to the association with a garanted market .PAYMENT IS MADE ON DELIVERY.
SO nobody commenting now?
Tunny! We don’t comment on positives here you should know that, lol.