Support for Climate-Smart Agriculture

Walter says climate smart agriculture must be complemented by pest and disease control, among others
Walter says climate smart agriculture must be complemented by pest and disease control, among others

(CASTRIES, St. Lucia) Anne-Marie Augustus is a female farmer from Micoud Saint Lucia. She does not refer to climate change by name, but says she knows first-hand the effects of rising temperatures. Augustus lost her entire crop of sweet potatoes in 2014; a devastating loss for the mother of six.

“It is hard. This year, I just think there was too much sun. I planted and I could not get one potato. All my plants burned,” she said.

Fishermen say they too are reeling from the effects of climate change. 60-year-old fisherman John Francis of Praslin, St. Lucia says rising sea temperatures and increasingly severe storms are threatening his livelihood.

“There used to be money in fishing. In the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s, I used to catch 500-600 lbs of fish a day. Things have changed. These days I am lucky if I catch 500 lbs of fish in two weeks. The sea is different. I cannot explain it, but it looks like there are less and less fish, warmer temperatures and really bad storms” he said.

Both Francis and Augustus say they are ready to get on board the movement for ‘climate-smart’ agriculture. It is a concept developed by the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) which pushes for “sustainable and equitable increases in agricultural productivity and incomes; greater resilience of food systems and farming livelihoods and a reduction and/or removal of greenhouse gas emissions associated with agriculture.”

Climate-smart agriculture was an area of priority for participants of the 2014 Caribbean Week in Agriculture (CWA), held in Suriname from October 6 to 10. The ACP/EU’s Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (CTA), one of the chief financiers of CWA, held a high-level workshop on ‘Improving Climate Change Resilience for Agriculture in the Caribbean’ during the week of activities. The CTA’s Senior Programme Coordinator for Agricultural Policy and Rural Development Oluyede Ajayi says small island states need to be able to withstand the effects of climate change.

“What we need now are agricultural practice that help farmers to keep increasing their yields, adapt to the changing climate and where possible, to lessen the impact,” he said.

Dominica’s Agriculture Minister Matthew Walter says he welcomes the push for climate-smart agriculture, but says it must be complemented by efforts to address present realities in the sector, including the need for pest and disease control.

“There are a few inhibiting factors that we need to take note of. All these brilliant ideas to increase production and productivity will only be successful if we can address diseases. Dominica is plagued with Black Sigatoka. St. Vincent has surrendered. St. Lucia is fighting. We cannot see an increase in production of plantains and bananas. Let us come together to address those factors,” he said.

The CTA has pledged its support for climate-smart agriculture initiatives. Director Michael Hailu says the impact of climate change on food security in the Caribbean is a reality, but says there is hope if partners can plan well, show commitment and act immediately.

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8 Comments

  1. Anoushah Alie
    November 4, 2014

    I am probably wrong for being pessimistic about all this climate change initiatives, but I will say this; it seems imponderable to reverse nature. Nature follows its own course and it never waits on directions from humans to unleash its rage, or peace. As a person whose faith over-encompasses all else; I believe that we are seeing the consequences of greed and ungratefulness, and our audacity to continue on with the same methods even though they have been proven inefficient and damaging. We can not expect to reverse anything when we are still busy putting up manufacturing plants and producing products that eventually end up in land mines, sea shores, and backyards.

  2. Lang Mama
    November 4, 2014

    DNO I have an idea as to why Mathew Walters looking so confused and stressed. He has too much work , a failed agriculture, responsible for Ebola, he as to go to court to testify that Linton statement about rapist minsters is an unjust attack on him and his colleagues and that every cabinet member must categorically state that Linton statement does not apply to him or her.

  3. Anonymous
    November 3, 2014

    Dem 2 fellas lookin lost, garcon

  4. Anonymous
    November 3, 2014

    Under control!!!!!!!! “Dominica is plagued with Black Sigatoka. ….We cannot see an increase in production of plantains and bananas”. In layman language, what really is climate smart agriculture

  5. Lang Mama
    November 3, 2014

    dNo who gove you guys this picture. That picture is embarassing for us Dominicans . Mathew look like he crying, like he in dream land. I wonder if he was thinking about the law suite that Lennox Lawrence and Tony file on behalf of the 18 minsters.
    Since Mathew is on his way out I expected to see Timothy at that function or Alick Lawrence and Nanthan .
    I wonder what it is that Mathew is worried about

  6. Mark
    November 2, 2014

    I’m not buying this Climate Change bull. We’ve always had severe storms for dry season. I believe this is a hoax.

  7. Anonymous
    November 1, 2014

    His photo tells you all one litter of castor oil in guadeloupe is 60 euro what a,……..

    • Pashtunwali
      November 5, 2014

      liter of oil / litter of cats

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