At its July 3-5 summit in Suriname, CARICOM Heads of Government received an update on the progress made by its Ministerial Task Force (MTF) on Food Production and Food Security in advancing the CARICOM Agri-Food Systems Agenda to tackle ongoing food security challenges and the rising food prices.
There is also the crucial matter of achieving the ambitious 25 by 2025 Vision – the reduction of the food import bill across the region by 25 percent by 2025.
According to the Communique issued at the end of the meeting, Heads noted that a majority of Member States have developed and submitted to the MTF their national targets, which will contribute to the attainment of the 25 by 2025 targets. The MTF, through the CARICOM Secre-tariat, has developed a reporting and monitoring tool which Member States are requested to report on monthly.
The Heads also mandated the CARICOM Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) to conclude, by the end of this month, various initiatives and programmes, aimed at the removal of Non-Tariff Barriers to Intra-Regional Trade.
Heads of Government also requested the CARICOM Private Sector Organization Inc (CPSO), which has been at the centre of controversy in Georgetown, to accelerate implementation of its various agricultural investment projects.
The Communique said that the MTF, working in collaboration with the CPSO, has identified 19 potential investment opportunities for supplanting extra-regional agri-food imports among CARICOM Member States.
The Heads also commended the Lead Head of Government with responsibility for Agriculture and Agriculture Development in the CARICOM Quasi-Cabinet, Guyana’s President Ali, for the success of the CARICOM Agri-Investment Forum and Expo which was held in Guyana from 19-21 May 2022 and endorsed the Action Plan and Outcome Statement from the event. That Statement had called for priority action to be centred around four main areas: Food Insecurity, Regional Transportation, Trade Barriers, and Women and Youth in Agriculture.
With its large landmass and the long unrequited dream to be the breadbasket of the Caribbean, all eyes will be on Guyana and its government in relation to the 25 by 2025 Vision. With very good reason – founded on decades of failed promises and pallid performance– the constant refrain across the region has been for decisive action to deliver this ambitious vision to secure the food fortunes of the region by eliminating unnecessary food imports.
Since Guyana’s President is the Lead Head in this endeavour, he will have to set the pace for the region and perhaps even aim for the country to surpass the 2025 target. There is a lot of information that should be forthcoming from the President and his Minister of Agriculture on this initiative.
Referenced in the Communique is the fact that the majority of the member states have submitted their national targets to the MTF. It is not known if Guyana is part of this majority but one expects that at the soonest, the Ali administration will show its hand and explain how it intends to meet its targets.
Which food imports will Guyana aim to cut by 25% by 2025 and how will this be achieved? The answer to this questions will determine what type of agricultural programme has to be put in place. Is it onions, potatoes, garlic and other vegetables being targeted? Or is it the fact that embarrassingly we import our dairy needs from as far as New Zealand and Australia having failed since independence to successfully construct an indigenous industry?
Five years ago, the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) had partnered with the non-profit organization, World University Service of Canada and the Canadian-funded Promotion of Regional Opportunities for Produce through Enterprises and Linkages project for trials with Irish potatoes and onions. Both of these vegetables continue to be high on the import list. While some local farmers successfully grew potatoes and onions in small quantities, it is clear that economies of scale and weather conditions will influence the success of this venture. Can the Ministry or NAREI say in what quantities are Irish potatoes and onions being produced here?
Presumably the 25 by 2025 Vision also pertains to feed for livestock. In this respect, the government and private sector partners are embedded in large-scale pilot cultivations in the intermediate savannahs. Final investment decisions will have to be made but it is unclear what the output will be by 2025.
The Ali government now has roughly 30 months to meet its target which will also coincide with high-stakes general elections. It should seek through various initiatives to stimulate cultivation of the mind-boggling range of food imports in evidence at supermarkets. First, however, the government must present the entire food import bill and then discuss with stakeholders the items that could feasibly be slashed by 25%. It will then have to devise a plan and execute it. It will be a key test of its capacity and acumen.
