Agriculture

​(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) Travel and Tourism statistics will be in focus this week in Roseau, Dominica, as Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Member States continue to place greater emphasis on the development and use of statistics to respond to tourism and trade information needs.

GEORGETOWN—The European Union is providing Euro 8.6 million (One Euro =US$1.30 cents) to boost agriculture in the Caribbean. The funds are being provided under the tenth European Development Fund (EDF) Intra-African Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Agriculture Policy Programme for the Caribbean between the European Commission and the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA).

(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana)     The Secretary General of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Ambassador Irwin LaRocque and Director General of the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) Mr. José́ Graziano da Silva reviewed progress in the latter’s assistance to the Community in agriculture, specifically in the areas of food security and assistance with sanitary and phyto-sanitary measures, and food and plant health.

(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Ministers of Agriculture wrapped up a Special Meeting of the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) Friday, recording movement on the linkages between agriculture and tourism and agreeing on the need for intensified action to address the transport of goods within the Region.

​(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) It is indeed a pleasure for me to address the opening of the 11th Caribbean Week of Agriculture, here in the beautiful country of Antigua and Barbuda whose government graciously consented to be the host for this week of activities. Since 1998, the CWA has become the signature event for the Region’s agriculture since it brings together a wide variety of stakeholders from the private sector, government, academia, and civil society, including youth and women, to examine the Caribbean’s most enduring sector.

(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) Young people in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) are interested and involved in the agriculture sector, but need, land, finance, mentorship, and greater involvement in policy-making.

This emerged as the consensus among youth across the Region on Monday as they began three days of interaction under the umbrella of the Caribbean Week of Agriculture (CWA) in Antigua and Barbuda.

​CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) Your Excellency Alfredo Moreno, Foreign Minister of Chile; Foreign Ministers and Heads of Delegation of CARICOM Member States; Senior officials of Chile and CARICOM States and of the CARICOM Secretariat; Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen; Representatives of the Media.

SUGAR PRODUCED from the 2010-2011 sugar cane crop was 139,594 tonnes, an increase over the 122,104 tonnes produced in the 2009-2010 crop. The amount represents a turnaround of a downward trend in sugar production since 2007 when the industry produced 164,387 tonnes of sugar.

The total represents the seventh largest amount of sugar produced in any one season over the last decade. In 2004, a tonnage of 183,672 was achieved, eclipsing the 174,640 tonnes produced in 2002.

As Jamaica seeks to slash high import food bills, the country and its farmers are reaping success with greenhouse technology.

​(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana)  Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen I feel particularly honoured to have been afforded the opportunity to deliver these remarks at the Tenth Caribbean Week of Agriculture in the Nature Island.