July 25, 2024
Collaboration, innovation, communication, and timeliness were the recurring themes of the virtual launch for the 18th edition of the Caribbean Week of Agriculture (CWA) which will be held in St. Vincent and the Grenadines from 7-11 October 2004. This year’s event will focus on ‘Climate Smart Agriculture for a Sustainable Future’, whichis aligned with the objectives of the 25 by 2025 Initiative to reduce the Region’s food import bill by 25 per cent by 2025 and to transform regional food systems into resilience and sustainable ones. This year, the CWA will include workshops, a trade exhibitions and field visits which will allow for insightful discussions, knowledge-sharing, forging of new partnerships and showcasing the latest innovations and strategies in climate-smart agriculture.
During the hour-long launch, a panel of speakers, comprising government ministers, the CARICOM Deputy Secretary-General and Assistant Secretary-General, and representatives of partner organisations in the regional food security and agriculture agenda, emphasised the strength in togetherness, combining resources and the urgency of innovation to ensure resilience and sustainability.
Celebrate, reflect, prepare
The Hon. Saboto Caesar, Minister of Agriculture, Rural Transformation, Forestry, Fisheries, Industry and Labour of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, delivered the feature address.
In his remarks, Minister Caesar underscored the “fierce urgency of now” and the importance of CWA 2024 as a period to celebrate the hard work and dedication of food producers and processors in the Region. He said it will also be apt to reflect on the challenges of climate change, praedial larceny; and an aging farming population, and the removal of trade preference for bananas are impacting food production and productivity; and preparation to confront the changes in the agriculture sector.
“Let us make the Caribbean Week of Agriculture 2024 a transformative experience through continuing work, exchange of knowledge, and networking among stakeholders and Member States withing CARICOM,” the Minister said.
The Hon. Mustapha Zulfikar, Minister of Agriculture of Guyana and Head of the Special Ministerial Task Force on Food Production and Food Security, said the theme of the week of activities is both timely and critical, and aligns effortlessly with Vision 25 by 2025. He pointed out that encouraging climate smart agriculture in the Region is a priority.
According to him, there must be investment and research on climate resilient systems and the Region, he added, must seize the moment to accelerate its transition to climate smart agriculture.
“The 18th Caribbean Week of Agriculture offers us an opportunity to accelerate the adoption of climate smart farming practices and technologies,” he said. He added that the Region needs to anticipate and prepare for the impacts of climate change.
