Partnerships, agricultural grants to enhance BVI’s food security

Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley pointed to his government’s strengthening of regional partnerships and expansion of agricultural grants as part of efforts to improve food security in the territory.

Dr Wheatley said his government continues to advance several initiatives aimed at increasing local food production and improving resilience in the territory’s food supply.

“We continue along our programme,” Dr Wheatley said at a recent press conference. “We have a grants programme that we just launched and quite a number of persons signed up for.”

The Premier noted that the initiative forms part of broader efforts to support farmers and strengthen the agriculture sector. He said the government is also planning an agricultural exhibition in April and continues to advance projects at Paraquita Bay intended to support local production.

“We’re going to put our agricultural exhibition on in April,” the Premier stated. “And we, of course, continue plans to build our reservoir in Paraquita Bay. We have our agricultural complex, that also is happening in Paraquita Bay.”

Food security has become a major concern for small island territories that rely heavily on imports. The BVI imports most of its food, making it vulnerable to supply chain disruptions, rising global food prices and external shocks.

Dr Wheatley emphasised that full self-sufficiency is not realistic but said the government is pursuing strategies to reduce reliance on imports while strengthening trade relationships with regional partners.

“There’s no overnight solution to establish food security,” Premier Wheatley said while explaining that the only country that can fully feed itself is Guyana.

He explained that partnerships with food-producing countries will form a key part of the territory’s strategy.

“So we will continue to have to import food,” Wheatley stated. “But this is why we are forming relationships with other countries in the region, such as the Dominican Republic, which is a big food producer.”

MOU with the Dominican Republic

According to the Premier, the government plans to formalise cooperation with the Dominican Republic in the coming weeks. “In a short few weeks, we’re going to sign a memorandum of understanding with the Dominican Republic government,” Dr Wheatley said.

The government is also seeking to expand cooperation within the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), where several member countries have active agricultural sectors.

“We continue to form relationships with our OECS colleagues,” Dr Wheatley said, noting that countries such as Dominica, St Vincent and Grenada produce a “reasonable amount of food”.

Alongside regional partnerships, the government is working to expand agricultural infrastructure locally. Dr Wheatley said plans for the Paraquita Bay agricultural complex include facilities that will help connect farmers directly with businesses.

“A part of the agricultural complex in Paraquita Bay will involve warehouse facilities for buying food from local farmers and consolidating from several different farms and engaging directly with hotels, supermarkets, and restaurants,” Premier Wheatley stated.

He added that the government intends to expand local food production while encouraging residents to support domestic agriculture.

“What these incidents or what these wars and conflicts and other external shocks remind us of is the urgency of being able to push forward our own ability to produce our own food and also to trade among our neighbours,” Dr Wheatley said.