On October 9, 2024, the OECS Council of Ministers for Agriculture held its annual meeting during the 18th CARICOM Caribbean Week of Agriculture in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. For the first time, farmers, agro-processors, and retailers were invited to discuss their challenges. This aimed to create a collaborative approach to sustainable agriculture. Representatives from the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) also attended.
Ministers Urge Collaboration
Hon. Lennox Andrews, Chair of the OECS Council of Ministers for Agriculture, welcomed the participants. He emphasized the importance of engaging directly with those in the sector.
“We thought that to put some context into our discussion, and for us to always bear in mind that we are not here to look after our needs, we are here to look after the needs of our people,” said Andrews. “Say to us what you would like us to do, say to us what you think that we are doing that we should not be doing, or what we’re doing that we should continue to do, or what you think we are supposed to be doing but we are not doing.”
Farmers Raise Concerns
In response, farmers and Helen’s Daughters, a female farmers’ group from Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent, voiced their concerns. They asked to be recognized as key players in agricultural development. They called for mental health support to address the trauma of climate change and economic challenges. Most farmers requested greater access to affordable, arable land to boost productivity and ensure food security.
OECS Strategy Highlights Farmers’ Role
Dr. Didacus Jules, Director General of the OECS, emphasized the importance of stakeholder input in the region’s Food and Agricultural Systems Transformation (FAST) Strategy.
“There are huge expectations in agriculture arising from great necessity because we’ve learned the lessons from COVID,” said Jules. “Your input helps to enrich the discussion and tends to keep us real in the decisions that we need to make.”
Engaging Youth in Agriculture
The OECS Commission updated farmers on the Youth in Agriculture Programme. This initiative aims to equip young people with the skills and resources needed to advance food security through agricultural practices and entrepreneurship.
Insurance for Farmers
IICA representative Allister Glean presented a new insurance plan for farmers. This roadmap aims to protect farmers against the financial risks posed by unpredictable challenges.
Closing Remarks
Hon. Saboto Caesar, Minister of Agriculture in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, acknowledged the importance of the farmers.
“I want to recognise the farmers who are here and also their hard work and dedication,” said Caesar. “Without the farmers, we would not have production, without the farmers, we won’t have food, and it is as simple as that.”
The OECS Council of Ministers for Agriculture remains committed to working with stakeholders to build a sustainable agricultural future for the region.
Source/Photo: OECS
