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Caribbean told to farm more as food insecurity rises

A report from April 2024 shows that food insecurity remains a pressing concern in the English-speaking Caribbean, with an estimated three million people currently experiencing moderate to severe food insecurity. 

The Caribbean Food Security and Livelihoods survey also shared many recommendations which point Caribbean countries to local farming as a way to address the important problem.

The survey shows that while food insecurity has decreased by 17% compared to a year ago, it is 78% higher than at the start of the pandemic in 2020. Those with lower incomes or a disability/chronic illness are the most affected. 

To tackle the food insecurity problem in the region, the report recommends a few actions, including advocating for improved access to finance to promote sustainable and resilient agri-food systems, adaptive social protection and climate change adaptation measures that will enhance food security and livelihoods. 

Caribbean countries are also encouraged to strengthen the productive capacities of smallholder farmers and fishers through access to technologies and climate information services. 

They are also warned to expand initiatives to increase demand for local foods to encourage healthy diets and combat noncommunicable diseases and obesity while supporting local and sustainable agricultural production. 

The report comes amid growing concerns that the government isn’t doing enough to increase agriculture production in the BVI. Water shortage and a lack of adequate pathways to get produce from farm to market are just a few of the issues affecting the small sector of farmers and fishers in the territory.

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9 Comments

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  1. maria louisa varlack says:

    yes this is very important industry. farming and agriculture industry is very important and vital to human survival.

  2. AYO CANT SEE? says:

    ARGRICULTURE IS DEAD IN THE BVI

  3. hmm says:

    Nah we gonna eat marijuana.

    Like 1
    Dislike 1
  4. TRUTH says:

    The BVI thinks it can depend on trailers coming in every day, and the prices keep rising with every trailer load, and people have to live in starvation mode on minimum wages. But let every one think about of how to subsist by planting a little food in their yard. Don’t wait for government because their interest is on power not poor people’s survival.

  5. Complacency and Laziness. says:

    Tellin g VI localsto farm moreor educate them on matters of foodinsecurity is akin to asking Ning and Ms. Inger, if you know them, to come upfrom where their bodies are and start farming. Never happen.

    The nations population is dwellng in a house of complancecy and laziness.

  6. @ AYO CAN'T SEE says:

    yes we can ,the cuban ( aka) mouth champ , who has joined for with another mouth champ ,should open our eyes , to these hypocrites ,the cuban had an opportunity of a lifetime. to develop and grow our own healthy vegetables / food for his people and country , and we all know 5he game he played on his people ,
    similarly with the fake pastor’s track record maybe the city slicker i teaching him the * moonwalk *

  7. WE ARE STILL HUNGRY says:

    AFTER GIVING AWAY 40 PLUS MILLIONS TO FISHERMEN/FARMERS

  8. Stealth says:

    The ( British) Virgin Islands up to the late 1950s was relatively self-sufficient in food production, exporting excess to the USVI, In the mid-60s, the VI started the transition from agricultural subsistence to services. This shift started an indifference to agriculture, depending heavily on imported food. Additionally, as older farmers retire, younger Virgin Islanders showed an indifference to agriculture, for it had a very close association with slavery. Further, as the indifference grew, and the dependence on imported food increases, agricultural lands were repurpose to other uses, ie, housing, etc, And the food insecurity posture worsens into an existential issue.

  9. Hmm says:

    How can we farm and the government officials don’t like farming!!! Look at the department of agriculture compound. ITS A GRASS LAND!! Up there so embarrassing!!

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