GECAFS Workshop on Caribbean Food Systems “ Research Issues Identification” Castries, St. Lucia, 17 – 19 October, 2002

1. Agricultural Diversification in the Context of Caribbean Food Systems GECAFS Workshop on Caribbean Food Systems “ Research Issues Identification” Castries, St. Lucia, 17 – 19 October, 2002 Vincent J. Atkins CRNM/ATNU

2. TypesofDiversification • Species • Commodity-based • Product • Value-added • Production Systems • Multi-commodity • Mono-crop Agricultural Diversification and Caribbean Food Systems

3. RegionalProgrammes Regional Food Plan (RFP) Regional Food and Nutrition Strategy (RFNS) Caribbean Community Programmme For Agricultural Development (CCPAD) Regional Transformation Programme For Agriculture (RTP)

4. Objectives • Economic Diversification • Structural Transformation • Food and Nutrition Security • Access, Availability, Adequacy of Food • Rural Development and Employment • Economic Growth and Poverty Alleviation Agricultural Diversification and Caribbean Food Systems

5. Objectives • ImportSubstitution • Foreign Exchange Savings • Export Expansion • Foreign Exchange Earnings • Risk Management • Reducing Income Variability • Pest and Disease Control • Environmental Sustainability Agricultural Diversification and Caribbean Food Systems

6. Strategies • Market Identification and Enhancement • Technical Support • Labeling, Packaging, Handling • Technology Generation and Validation • Infra-structural Support Agricultural Diversification and Caribbean Food Systems

7. Strategies • Research and Product Development • Marketing • Product Promotion • Dissemination of Information • Prices, Markets, Regulations, • Policy Support • Incentives, credit, grades & standards Agricultural Diversification and Caribbean Food Systems

8. Target Commodities • Root Crops and Tubers • yam, potato, dasheen • Fruits and Vegetables • breadfruit, mango, golden-apples, passion-fruit, onion, carrots Agricultural Diversification and Caribbean Food Systems

9. Target Commodities • Ornamental Plants and Cut Flowers • Fisheries/Aqua-culture • Livestock • Pork, Poultry, Small Ruminants Agricultural Diversification and Caribbean Food Systems

10. 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) Agricultural Diversification and Caribbean Food Systems

11. Constraints • Inadequate support infra-structure • Limited availability of credit • Limited Information Systems • Lack of incentives/inadequate support policies • Predial Larceny Agricultural Diversification and Caribbean Food Systems

12. 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. Agricultural Diversification and Caribbean Food Systems

13. 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.