Transcript Agricultural Diversification Within The Context of the

GECAFS Workshop on Caribbean Food Systems
“ Research Issues Identification”
Castries, St. Lucia,
17 – 19 October, 2002
Vincent J. Atkins
CRNM/ATNU
Types of Diversification
 Species
• Commodity-based
 Product
• Value-added
 Production Systems
• Multi-commodity
• Mono-crop
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Agricultural Diversification and
Caribbean Food Systems
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Regional Programmes
Regional Food Plan (RFP)
Regional Food and Nutrition Strategy (RFNS)
Caribbean Community Programmme
For Agricultural Development (CCPAD)
Regional Transformation Programme
For Agriculture (RTP)
Objectives
 Economic Diversification
• Structural Transformation
 Food and Nutrition Security
•
Access, Availability, Adequacy of Food
 Rural Development and Employment
 Economic Growth and Poverty Alleviation
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Agricultural Diversification and
Caribbean Food Systems
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Objectives
 Import Substitution
• Foreign Exchange Savings
 Export Expansion
• Foreign Exchange Earnings
 Risk Management
• Reducing Income Variability
• Pest and Disease Control
• Environmental Sustainability
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Agricultural Diversification and
Caribbean Food Systems
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Strategies
 Market Identification and Enhancement
 Technical Support
• Labeling, Packaging, Handling
 Technology Generation and Validation
 Infra-structural Support
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Agricultural Diversification and
Caribbean Food Systems
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Strategies
 Research and Product Development
 Marketing
• Product Promotion
 Dissemination of Information
• Prices, Markets, Regulations,
 Policy Support
• Incentives, credit, grades & standards
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Caribbean Food Systems
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Target Commodities
 Root Crops and Tubers
• yam, potato, dasheen
 Fruits and Vegetables
• breadfruit, mango, golden-apples,
passion-fruit, onion, carrots
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Agricultural Diversification and
Caribbean Food Systems
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Target Commodities
 Ornamental Plants and Cut Flowers
 Fisheries/Aqua-culture
 Livestock
• Pork, Poultry, Small Ruminants
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Caribbean Food Systems
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Constraints
 Limited Market Sizes
 Low levels of productivity
 Lack of Competitiveness
•
small farm sizes, high input/labour/production costs,
inefficient/inappropriate technology
 Unfair competition (from subsidised imports)
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Agricultural Diversification and
Caribbean Food Systems
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Constraints
 Inadequate support infra-structure
 Limited availability of credit
 Limited Information Systems
 Lack of incentives/inadequate support policies
 Predial Larceny
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Caribbean Food Systems
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Results
 Low production and export volumes of
both traditional and non-traditional crops.
 Few agro-processing (valued-added)
industries emerging.
 Chronic poverty [urban and rural] and
limited access to nutritionally adequate
foods.
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Agricultural Diversification and
Caribbean Food Systems
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Results
 Continued heavy dependence on food
imports.
 82 % of CARICOM’s food imports was
sourced from outside the Region in 2000.
 Relative decline in the performance of the
agricultural sector.
 Wide range of commodities produced,
albeit in relatively small quantities.
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