By Abigail Headley
In a drive to aid food security, the United States yesterday launched a regional programme to boost agricultural productivity and coconuts and cherries will be among the areas of focus here.
The Caribbean Agricultural Productivity Improvement Activity (CAPA) will come under the US Agency for International Development (USAID) in partnership with Improving Economies for Stronger Communities (IESC). The three-year, US$5.3m funded programme will benefit several Caribbean countries including Guyana, Suriname, Grenada and St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG).
With the main aim of helping farmers to increase their productivity, CAPA encompasses three objectives; to increase smallholder market-led production of fruits and vegetables, to improve domestic and regional market linkages for smallholder farmers, and to strengthen public/private sector extension skills, capacity and systems.