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Prisoninmatesinsaintvincentandthegrenadinesenthusedoverfao
vocationaltraininginbasketryproduction
EighteenprisoninmatesintheCaribbeanislandofSaintVincentandtheGrenadinesreceivedtrainingin
basketandmatproductionin2015.TheForestLivelihoodTrainingInitiative,organizedbytheFAO,
demonstratesconsiderablepotentialforthesocialandeconomicrehabilitationandreintegrationof
Vincentianinmates.
(Bridgetown,30December,2015)Atrainingprogramme/workshopdeliveredbytheFoodandAgriculture
OrganizationoftheUnitedNations(FAO)inrawmaterialsharvestingandmatandbasketconstructionis
reapingrewards.
EighteenmaleandfemaleinmatesofH.M.sPrison,Kingstown,St.VincentandtheGrenadineswere
trainedinVetiverMatandBasketryConstructionTrainingbetweenAugustOctober2015.Thetraining
aimedtoofferinmatestheopportunityforsocialandeconomicreintegration,whilstaddressingthewider
issueofforestlivelihoodcreationtostrengthentheforestrehabilitationdrivecurrentlybeingundertakenby
theForestryDivisionofthecountrysMinistryofAgriculture.
H.M.sPrisoninKingstownprovidedasettingfortrainingofindividualswho,throughpreviouslife
circumstancesand/orconditionsimposedduringincarceration,facesevereeconomicandsocialchallenges.
Themajorityofparticipantswereunder30yearsold,withhalfoftheparticipantsaged1625years.
Thepotentialofrehabilitativeprisonprogrammestoreduceratesofrecidivismiswelldocumented.
Researchstudieshaveshownthatrehabilitationprogrammescanpermanentlyreducecrimethroughthe
provisionofemploymentopportunitiesandtheresocializationofinmatesandexoffenders.
TheworkshopcoordinatorandtrainerMsVonnieRoudette,wasimpressedwiththeinmatesenthusiasm
andrapidpaceoflearning,whichinherexperience,exceededthatoftertiarylevelcollegestudents.The
vocationaltrainingprovidesnewpossibilitiesforinmatestogenerateincomeduringincarcerationaswellas
socialandeconomicwellbeinguponreleasefromtheinstitution.Weintendtoensurethatproductsmadein
prisongainentrytothedomesticmarket,wherethedemandforutilitarianhandcraftsispresentlyhigh.
Thetraininghashelpedmewiththestressofbeinginjail,Ifeelmuchmorehappyandpositivesincebeing
out[ofthecellarea]IwouldliketocontinueandearnalivingfromthisremarkedE.T.,aged25.E.T.is
currentlyservingthefinalsixmonthsofaneightyearsentence.
AdditionaltrainersLeonAlexanderandLucitaMcCoy,reiteratedthattheresponsetotrainingwaspositive
andexpressedtheirhopethatthehandicraftprojectcontinues.Theteamoftrainersaimstoestablishan
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ongoinginmatedrivenproductionunitwithintheprison,withlinkagestosmallbusinessoperationsinthe
privatesector.
DirectorofForestry,FitzgeraldProvidence,indicatedthattheForestryDivisionoftheMinistryofAgriculture
implementedavetiverplantinginitiativeinearly2015tocontrollanderosion,whilstsupplyingarenewable
resourceforthebasketandmatproductionindustry.
Vetiverwastraditionallyplantedtopreventerosiononbanksandroadsides,butthepracticehasdeclined.
Wehavereintroducedittoconservesoilandtoutilizeitincraftproduction,whichisalivelihoodcreation
componentofourForestRehabilitationProjectProvidencestated.
SuperintendentofPrisons,BrentonCharles,welcomedthetraininginitiative,highlightingtheprogrammes
abilitytoexpandtherangeofvocationalskillsthatcanbeprovidedtoinmates.Hewentontostatethat,it
hasprovenimmenselyvaluableintermsoftheuseofinmatestimethroughbeingproductiveandhaving
theirworkadmiredbyothers,anditalsocontributestotheirsenseofselfworth.
Theworkshophasalsoprovidedanopportunitytoassessinmatesneedsandsupportfortheintroductionof
otherskillstrainingprogrammes,aswellasrecommendationsforfutureprisontrainingprogrammesin
forestlivelihoodcreation.
Inmateswhoparticipatedinthetrainingprogrammereportedincreasedlevelsofconfidenceandasenseof
fulfillment,andallofthebeneficiariesreportedthattheworkshopprovidedthemwithapositiveexperience
duringincarcerationtosharewiththeirfamilies.
Ifeeldifferentthanbefore[ldid]thetraining,beforeIfeltdepressed,nowIhavesomethingtolookforward
tothatIwanttodoIintendtocontinuecauseIdontwanttocomebacktojail,said20yearoldK.N.,an
inmatewhoisservingasixyearsentence.A.R.,a23yearoldinmatewhoisservingasentenceoffour
years,alsoreportedafeelingofsatisfactionwiththeprogramme,andexpressinghisdesiretostarta
businessinthefielduponreleasefromprison.
Injusttwomonths,theForestLivelihoodTrainingInitiativehasdemonstratedconsiderablepotentialforthe
rehabilitationofVincentianprisoners,justifyingfurthersupportfortheprogrammescontributionto
sustainableproductionwithintheinstitution.Italsowarrantsconsiderationasaflagshipprogrammefor
implementationincorrectionalfacilitiesinotherCaribbeanislands.
FAOcollaboratewithCaribbeanandBrazilianGovernmentsto
StrengthenSchoolFeedingProgrammesintheCaribbean
FAOandtheBrazilianGovernmentarecollaboratingwithCaribbeangovernmentstodevelopa
comprehensivecooperationplanaimedatensuringthesustainabilityofSchoolFeedingProgrammesinthe
region.Officialsmet24DecemberinSt.LuciatocriticallyanalysetheexperienceoftheSt.LuciaSchool
FeedingPilotProjectthatstartedin2015.FollowingthesuccessoftheSaintLuciaexperience,fivemore
countriesareplanningtoimplementnationalpilotsforaSustainableSchoolFeedingProgramme.
(Bridgetown,23December,2015)SchoolFeedingProgrammesintheCaribbeantookcentrestage24
DecemberwhenofficialsfromtheFoodandAgricultureOrganizationoftheUnitedNations(FAO)metata
workshopwithstakeholdersandgovernmentofficialsfromtheCaribbeanandBraziltopresentandanalyse
theSt.LucianSustainableSchoolFeedingPilotexperience.
TheDecemberworkshop,heldinSt.Lucia,wasaimedatstrengtheninggovernmentscapacitiesfor
improvingschoolfeedingprogrammesthroughouttheCaribbeanregion,throughthelensoftheSt.Lucian
PilotProgramme,whichcommencedin2015.
AccordingtoMrJorgeORyan,FAOConsultantonGovernanceandFoodSecurity,theSchoolFeeding
ProgrammeintheCaribbeanregionhasservedasoneofthemostsuccessfulpoliciesintermsofitsability
tosimultaneouslyaddressthevariouschallengesthattheregioniscurrentlyfacing.Hehighlightedthe
Programmesabilitytoensureasustainablemarketforlocallyproducedfreshfoodsandtoimprovehealth
bypromotinghealthyeatinghabitsamongchildrenthroughfoodandnutritioneducation.
Despitethesuccessoftheinitiative,thereremainsomechallengestothelongtermsustainabilityofthe
initiative,whichinclude:inadequatelevelsofengagementofallstakeholdersinvolvedinthedeliveryofthe
Programme,financialbudgetaryallocationfromgovernmentsandtheabsenceofclearlegalandregulatory
frameworksgoverningtheimplementation,monitoringandsocialcontroloftheinitiative.
AtaReflectionMeetingorganisedbytheFAOSubregionalOfficeintheCaribbean,held1416December
inBarbados,MrORyanreportedthatstakeholderswhoattendedtheSt.Luciaworkshop,identifiedtheneed
fortheSchoolFeedingProgrammesintheregiontoprovideadequate,healthyandculturallyappropriate
foodstoallentitledstudentsaswellastopromoteeducationforfoodandnutritionsecurity.The
developmentofhealthyeatinghabitsandtheinstallationofadequateinfrastructureandequipmentforfood
preparationinschools,wereotherareasthatnecessitatedagreaterimportance.Localandregional
stakeholdersalsocalledongovernmentstoestablishappropriatelinkageswithlocalmarketsandproducers
andtoengageindiagnosis,monitoringandevaluationoftheinitiative.
MrORyanemphasisedthattheSchoolFeedingProgrammeshouldgobeyondamealsupplyprogramme
andbecomeatoolforsocialtransformation,inwhichtheprocessofeducatingchildrenaboutfoodand
nutritionbecomesatoolforempowermentanddignity.
FAOandtheBrazilianGovernment,throughtheStrengtheningSchoolFeedingProgrammesinthe
FrameworkoftheHungerFreeLAC2025InitiativeGCP/RLA/180/BRAProject,havecommittedtodevelop
acomprehensivecooperationplanaimedatensuringthesustainabilityoftheinitiative,aswellasthe
adoptionofahumanrightsapproachtotheProgrammeanditsassociatedpublicpoliciesintheregion.
DuringthevisittoSt.Lucia,officialstouredthetwoschoolsthatbenefittedfromtheFAO/Brazilcooperation
projectaswellasanotherschoolthatwassupportedbytheprivatesector.Officialswereabletocritically
analyzetheimplementationprocessoftheinitiativeandlessonslearned.
ItishopedthatthelessonslearnedintheSt.LuciaSustainablePilotProject,whichfocusedontheinclusion
ofnutritionaleducationinschools,evaluationandmonitoringoftheProgramme,publicpurchasefromlocal
farmers,theinstallationofschoolgardensandintersectorialcollaborationandcommunityparticipation,will
alsobecomeausefulreferenceforotherSchoolFeedingProgrammesthroughouttheregion.
FollowingthesuccessoftheSaintLuciaexperience,fivemorecountriesareplanningtoimplementnational
pilotsforaSustainableSchoolFeedingProgramme.Belize,Jamaica,Guyana,GrenadaandSaintVincent
andtheGrenadineswillfollowtheexperienceofSaintLuciain2016tostrengthenSchoolfeeding
programmesintheCaribbean.
FirstlitterofBlackbellylambsbornfromartificialinseminationin
Barbados
BarbadosmakesmajoradvancementassixoftheislandsBlackbellysheepwereartificiallyinseminated
andgivebirthtoelevenhealthylambs.Thiseventmarksthefirstsuccessfulattemptatusingartificial
inseminationinsheepproductionontheisland.
(Bridgetown,21December,2015)Barbadosfirstlitteroflambswasbornfromartificialinseminationin
Decemberofthisyear.Thelambs,whichwerebornattheGreenlandAgriculturalStation,continueto
progresswellandwillbeweanedfromtheirmothersinearly2016..
AccordingtoFAOLivestockOfficer,DrCedricLazarus,thiseventrepresentsamajoradvancementforthe
regionslivestockindustryduetothedifficultyofartificialinsemination(AI)ofsheepcomparedtoitsusein
cattleandpigs.DrLazarusexplainedthatAIinsheeprequiresextensivetrainingforveterinariansand
technicianstofullymasterthetechniques.Thesuccessofthisinitialtrainingexerciseindicatesthatwiththe
propercollaboration,planningandfunding,sheepAIcanbesuccessfullyimplementedinBarbadosjustas
piganddairycattleAIhavebeen.
MrsEnaHarvey,RepresentativeoftheInterAmericanInstituteforCooperationonAgriculture(IICA)in
Barbadoshighlightedtheimportanceoftheadoptionandutilisationofinnovativebreedingtechniquessuch
asartificialinseminationandembryotransferinsafeguardingthesustainabilityofBlackbellysheep
productioninBarbados.
IICA,throughitscollaborationwiththeMexicanMinistryofAgricultureandinconjunctionwiththeBarbados
AgricultureSociety(BAS),theMinistryofAgricultureandtheFoodandAgricultureOrganizationofthe
UnitedNations(FAO)conductedthe5daytrainingexerciseinartificialinseminationinsheepproductionfor
MinistryofAgriculturetechniciansandfarmers.ThesessiontookplaceattheGreenlandLivestock
ResearchStationinBarbadosinJuly2015.
ThetrainingexerciseintroducedtheAItechniquetogovernmenttechniciansandleadingsheepfarmerswho
wereinvitedtotheworkshop.TheroutineuseofAIwillenablefarmerstoimprovetheirproductivityby
havingaccesstogeneticsfromtopqualityBlackbellyramsintheisland.Intheory,AIallowshundredsof
offspringstobeproducedfromatopBlackbellyraminasinglebreedingseasonratherthanthe4060thatis
currentlythenorm.AsolidAIprogrammealsoenablesafarmerwithasuperiorBlackbellyramtocollect,
storeandsellfrozensementoothersheepfarmersforuseintheirbreedingprogrammes.Anadditional
benefitofAIisthatsemenofsuperiorramsoncecollectedandfrozeninliquidnitrogencanbeavailablefor
useyearsorevendecadesaftertheramhasdied.
TheJulytrainingexercisewasledbytwoMexicanscientistsandafewofthetechnicianswereableto
practiceonanimalsmadeavailablebyGreenland.BySeptember2015,itwasevidentthatseveralofthe
animalsthatwereinseminatedinthetrainingexercisewereinfactpregnantandinDecemberatotalof11
kidswerebornfrom6pregnancies.
Artificialinseminationhasbeenusedaroundtheworldasabreedingtoolinlivestock,particularlyindairy
cattleandpigs,fordecades.IntheCaribbean,thetechniquehasbeenemployedbydairyfarmersfor
decadesandinthepastfewyearsithadbeensuccessfullyintroducedtopigfarmersinbothJamaicaand
Barbados.Inthesmallruminantsindustry,thetechniquewasintroducedtogoatfarmersinJamaicaaround
4yearsagothroughanEUfundedFAOproject.Sincethen,therehasbeenahighdemandfortheservice
byJamaicangoatfarmerswhoarebenefitingfromtheavailabilityofimprovedgenetics(frombothlocaland
overseassources)toupgradetheirflocks.
TherecentsuccessfulapplicationandoutcomeoftheuseofAIinsheep,whichisconsiderablymore
difficult,bodeswellforthefoodsecurityofthelivestockindustryandthelivelihoodofsheepfarmersin
Barbados.AccordingtoMrJohnVaughan,ManageroftheGreenlandLivestockResearchStation,local
farmershavefaceddifficultiesinobtaininghighqualitybreedinganimalsfortheirherdsduetothedecrease
inthenumberoflocalfarmerswhorearBlackbellysheep.
Theregionaldevelopmentagenciesinvolvedinthedevelopmentofthesmallruminantsectorwillcontinueto
collaboratetodevelopandexpandthesectorinBarbadosandtherestoftheCaribbeanregion,soasto
reducetheislandsandregionsrelianceonimportsofsheepandgoatmeats.Inadditiontostrengthening
thebreedingprogrammes,emphasisisalsobeingplacedonoverallmanagementofsmallruminantfarms,
aswellasonfeeding,nutritionandmarketing
CaribbeanPoultryOfficials:Goodbiosecuritypracticesessentialin
reducingriskofdiseasespreadofAvianInfluenzaVirusestothe
region
Caribbeanpoultryofficialsarecontinuingtoensurethatpoultryfarmersintheregionareprovidedwithupto
dateinformationonadequatediseasepreventiontechniques,whichshouldcontributetoreducingtheriskof
AvianInfluenzaVirusesspreadingtopoultryfarmsintheCaribbean.Recently,over50Barbadianpoultry
farmersbenefittedfromabiosecurityworkshopheldontheisland.Similarworkshopswillalsobeheldin
otherCaribbeanislandsstartinginJanuary2016.
(Bridgetown,26November,2015)Regionalworkshopsongooddiseasepreventiontechniquesforpoultry
farmersarebutoneofthemeasuresthatarebeingtakenacrosstheregionbyCaribbeanpoultryofficials,in
anefforttosafeguardanimalhealthandthefoodsecurityoftheregion,assuredDrCedricLazarus,
LivestockDevelopmentOfficeroftheFoodandAgricultureOrganizationoftheUnitedNations(FAO).
ThefirstoftheseworkshopstookplaceinBarbados,whereover50oftheislandspoultryfarmerswere
providedwithuptodateinformationonadequatediseasepreventiontechniques,soastostrengthen
onfarmbiosecuritypracticesontheisland.
Priortotheworkshop,DrMarkTrotman,SeniorVeterinaryOfficeroftheMinistryofAgriculture,stressed
thatgoodbiosecuritypracticeswereconsideredessentialinreducingtheriskofpoultrybecominginfected
withavianinfluenzaviruses,shouldthesevirusesentertheCaribbeanregion.Theworkshoptookplaceon
Saturday28November,andwasorganizedbytheCaribbeanAnimalHealthNetwork(CaribVET)in
conjunctionwiththeMinistryofAgriculture,Food,FisheriesandWaterResourceManagement,the
BarbadosAgricultureSociety(BAS),theInterAmericanInstituteforCooperationonAgriculture,theFood
andAgricultureOrganizationoftheUnitedNations(FAO)andtheCaribbeanPoultryAssociation(CPA).
Attheworkshop,DrLazarus,whochairedtheproceedings,statedthatfindingsmadebytheUnitedStates
DepartmentofAgriculture,indicatedthatthespreadoftheavianinfluenzavirusbetweenfarmsintheUSA
earlierthisyearoccurredmainlythroughbiosecuritylapsesandthemovementofpeopleandequipment
betweenfarms.Heurgedfarmerstopaycloseattentiontotheimplementationofgoodbiosecuritypractices
ontheirfarms,whichincludepropercleaninganddisinfectionoffarmequipmentandtools,aswellas
restrictingvisitorsandvehiclestotheirfarms.Healsostressedthatfarmequipmentshouldnotbeshared
betweenfarms.Suchpractices,hesaid,wouldnotonlyreducethepossibilityfordiseasespread,butwould
alsosafeguardanimalhealthandthefoodsecurityoftheregion.
ThesessionwasorganizedagainstthebackdropoftheDecember2014outbreakofthehighlypathogenic
H5N2strainoftheinfluenzavirusthatoccurredintheUSA.Theviruseventuallyspreadto21states,
infectingcommercialandbackyardpoultry,aswellascaptivewildbirds.Theseoutbreaksresultedinthe
cullingordepopulationofapproximately7.5millionturkeysand42millionlayersandpulletchickens,with
devastatingeffectsonthepoultryindustry.BythetimetheUSoutbreaksendedinJune2015,thecosttothe
FederaltaxpayeramountedtoapproximatelyonebillionUSdollars.
Itiswellknownthatthevirusoriginatedinwildbirds,whichappeartobeareservoirfortheseviruses.
AlthoughtheCaribbeanhasbeenunaffectedthusfar,itisimportantthattheregionstartstoprepareforany
eventuality,duetothefactthatwildbirdsmigratesouthduringthefallandsomeofthemigratorypathways
fromNorthtoSouthAmericapassovertheCaribbeanIslands.
Theworkshopsorganizingbodieswillcontinuetoworktogetherwithpoultryfarmersandother
stakeholders
toengageinfurtherpreventionmeasurestoreducetheriskofthespreadofavianinfluenzaandother
diseasestopoultryfarmsinBarbados.SimilarworkshopswillbeheldinotherCaribbeanislands,startingin
January2016.
StakeholdersmeettovalidatetheDraftofFisheriesandAquaculture
PolicyofTheBahamas
ThedevelopmentofthePolicyispartofalargercooperativeprojectbetweentheMinistryofAgricultureand
MarineResourcesandtheFAO.
(Nassau,NewProvidence,25November2015)BahamasDepartmentofMarineResourcesin
collaborationwiththeFoodandAgricultureOrganizationoftheUnitedNations(FAO)hostedafinal
consultationwithstakeholderstovalidateadraftoftheFisheriesandAquaculturePolicyforthecountry.
Governmentagencies,NGOs,sectorrepresentativesandotherparticipants,reviewedandvalidatedthe
draftPolicy,whichwillnowbepresentedtotheMinisterofAgricultureandMarineResourcesandCabinet
forapprovalearlynextyear.
ThedevelopmentofthePolicyispartofalargercooperativeprojectbetweentheMinistryofAgricultureand
MarineResourcesandtheFAO.
Over100peoplehaveparticipatedintheconsultationprocesstodevelopthePolicyanditsassociated
StrategicPlan.MeetingsanddiscussionshavebeenheldoverthecourseofthepastyearinNew
Providenceandacrossitssisterislands.
MrCephasCooper,UnderSecretaryoftheMinistryofAgricultureandMarineResources,openedthe
stakeholdermeetingandthankedFAOaswellastheDepartmentofMarineResourcesfortheireffortsin
developingthePolicy.HehighlightedtheroleoffisheriesinthecultureandeconomyoftheBahamasand
reaffirmedthegovernmentscommitmenttodevelopthesector.Healsoreiteratedthefactthatsustainable
fishingisalongtermsourceofemployment,foodsecurityandnutritiontothepeopleoftheBahamas.
MrCarlosFuentevilla,FisheriesOfficerforFAO,highlightedtheimportanceofhavingafisheriesand
aquaculturepolicythatallowsallthestakeholdersinthesectortoworktogetherwiththesamegoalsand
objectives.HenotedthataFisheriesandAquaculturePolicy,alongwitharelatedstrategicplanforits
implementationthathasbeenagreedbystakeholders,arebothcrucialforthesustainabledevelopmentof
thesector.
WiththevalidationoftheNationalPolicyforFisheriesandAquaculture,thenextsteprequiresthatthe
documentbepresentedtotheMinisterofAgricultureandMarineResourcesforendorsement,further
discussionandapprovalinCabinet.
TheFAOBahamascooperativeprojectseekstoimproveanddevelopthefisheriesandaquaculturesector.
ItincludesthedevelopmentofthePolicyandastrategicplantodriveitsimplementation,aswellasanew
fisheriesdatacollectionandstatisticssystem,aswellasanassessmentofthefeasibilityandrequirements
tospuraquacultureproductioninTheBahamas.
RegionalFisheriesManagementOrganization:alucrativeopportunity
withinreachoradistantdream?
ARegionalFisheriesManagementOrganizationfortheCaribbeanofferstremendouseconomicpotential
andbenefitsamountingtoa20%increaseincatcheswithin10yearsandanadditional700millionUSD
generatedfortheregion.However,theestablishmentoftheOrganizationmaybealengthyprocess,much
tothedetrimentoftheregion.
(PortofSpain,3December2015)Delegationsfrom24countriesandtheEuropeanUnion(EU)meton12
DecemberinTrinidadandTobagotodiscussthecostsandbenefitsofestablishmentofaregionalfisheries
managementorganization(RFMO).Thesekindsofregionalfisheriesorganizationsareconsideredmain
instrumentsforimplementationoffisheriesmanagementofregionallysharedandtransboundaryresources
undertheUnitedNationsConventionontheLawoftheSea(UNCLOS).RFMOshavebeenestablishedand
coveralmostalloceansandseas,excepttheWesternCentralAtlanticOceanregion.RFMOsaregenerally
highlyeffectiveintermsofcollectingnecessaryinformationforfisheriesmanagement,increasing
collaborationbetweenstates,negotiatingfisheriesquotas,supportingfisheriesemploymentandensuring
longtermsustainabilityoffisheriesresources.
The2ndStrategicreorientationworkshopoftheWesternCentralAtlanticFisheryCommission(WECAFC)
aimedtoclarifythecostsandbenefitstomemberstatesinestablishingandmaintaininganRFMOinthe
region.ItalsoincreasedawarenessandcontributedtobuildingcapacityamongtheWECAFCmember
countriesaboutthebenefitsoftransformingtheCommissionintoanRFMO.
Thedraftcostbenefitassessmentpresentedtotheworkshopshowedpotentialbenefitsintheorderofa
20%increaseincatcheswithin10yearsandanadditionalvaluegeneratedof700millionUSDforthe
region.Theincreaseinproduction,associatedwithbettermanagementofsharedresources,wouldprovide
fishforanadditional20millionpeopleintheregionandcurbthecurrenttrendofeverincreasingfish
imports.AnestimatedinvestmentofUSD1.5millionannuallybythemembercountriesinanRFMOwould
thusoffersignificantbenefitstothepeopleoftheregion.
H.E.MinisterofAgriculture,LandandFisheriesoftheGovernmentofTrinidadandTobago,Clarence
Rambarathinhisaddresstotheregionalworkshopstatedthedecliningfishstocksareaseriousconcernto
measmanypeopleinTrinidadandTobagoaredependentonfisheriesfortheirincomeandfoodsecurity.
TheformerpresidentoftheglobalCommitteeonFisheries(COFI),Dr.JohanWilliams,whocochairedthe
workshop,addedthatmostcountriesintheregionarealreadymembersorsocalledcooperating
noncontractingpartiestoRFMOsinotherpartsoftheworld,fishingandtransportingfishelsewhere.He
saidthatwithoutanRFMOwithaclearmanagementmandateforregionalfisheries,itwouldbeimpossible
todeterandeliminateillegal,unreportedandunregulated(IUU)fishing.IUUfishinghasbeenestimatedto
bebetween20and30%ofthetotalcatchintheCaribbeanregionandleadstooverexploitationofstocks,
reductionofeconomicfeasibilityoflegitimatefisheries,lowerbenefitsoffisheriestosocietyandanincrease
inconflictsinthesector.
WhilemostparticipantsattheworkshoprecognizedtheneedforanRFMO,theywerelesssureonthe
futureofafisheriesgovernancestructureandexpressedconcernsforwhatmaybealengthyprocessforthe
establishmentofanRFMO.Thereisanopportunityforachangeforthebetter,butwhetheritremainsa
distantdream,orcomesthroughsoon,willbedeterminedin2016.InJune2016atthe16thsessionof
WECAFC,themembersareexpectedtodecideonawayforward.
FAOSubRegionalOfficefortheCaribbeanStatementforWorldFood
Day201516October,2015
Theme:SocialProtectionandAgriculture:BreakingthecycleofPoverty
Achievingandsafeguardingfoodandnutritionsecurityoneofthemostbasichumanneedsisunder
increasingthreatintheCaribbeansubregion,duetorapidshiftsintheeconomicandpoliticallandscapeas
wellasincreasingenvironmentalinstabilitycausedbytheeffectsofclimatechange.
ThemandateoftheFoodandAgricultureOrganizationoftheUnitedNations(FAO),whichaimstopromote
andensurefoodsecuritytheavailabilityofadequateamountsofhealthyandhighqualityfoodistherefore
nowmorerelevantthanever.
16thOctoberthisyearmarksthe35thanniversaryoftheoccasionofWorldFoodDay,whichalsocoincides
withthe70thanniversaryoftheFoodandAgricultureOrganizationoftheUnitedNations(FAO).FAOhas
beenpresentintheSubregionforseveraldecades,duringwhichtimewevewitnessedconsiderable
progressinincreasingfoodandnutritionsecurity.
ThethemeofthisyearsWorldFoodDayisSocialProtectionandagriculturebreakingthecycleofrural
poverty.Socialprotectioninstrumentsactasenablingtoolsthatallowindividuals,familiesandcommunities
toparticipateeffectivelyinthesocioeconomicsphere,reducingdiscriminationbysex,age,disabilityorother
characteristicsthatcouldplacethematrisktoshocksintheeconomy.
CountriesintheCaribbeanhavebenefittedenormouslyfromsocialprotectionschemesovermanyyears
andthehighstandardoflivingandlowlevelsofundernourishmenthavebeenacknowledged.
Justthisyear,sixCaribbeancountriesBarbados,Guyana,St.VincentandtheGrenadines,Suriname,
CubaandtheDominicanRepublicachievedtheMillenniumDevelopmentGoals(MDGs)onhungerand
featurepromisingindicatorswithregardstofoodsecurityandnutrition.TheLatinAmericaandCaribbean
regionasawholealsometthegoaloftheWorldFoodSummit(WFS),havingreducedthetotalnumberof
undernourishedpeopleto34.3million.
Aswereflectontheprogressmade,theFAOreaffirmsitscommitmenttocontinuetoassistCaribbean
governmentsinstrengtheningtheirresponsetothenumerouseconomicandenvironmentalshockssoasto
ensurethatCaribbeancitizenscontinuetohaveaccesstoanadequatesupplyofnutritiousfood.
TheFAOhasassistedgovernmentsintheregiontoimplementanumberofsocialprotectionrelatedactions
toimprovetheirfoodandnutritionsecurity.
MostCARICOMcountrieshaveNationalFoodandNutritionSecurityPoliciesandActionPlans.Thecurrent
nationalpolicyframeworkinBarbadosprioritisesfoodavailability,access,utilisationandstability.Itfocuses
onareasspecifictoimprovednutrition,focusingheavilyonwomen,micronutrients,andinfectiousdiseases.
Thisrestructuringeffectivelyaddressestheproblemsofchronicnoncommunicablediseasesandotherfood
andnutritionchallengesinamoresystematicandcoordinatedway.
Inearly2012,AntiguaandBarbudalaunchedtheZeroHungerChallengeInitiativePlanofAction
20132014,withthesupportofFAOandotherinternationalagencies.ThePlanisaimedat,amongother
objectives,inensuring100%accesstoadequatefoodallyearround.
Sincethelaunchoftheprogramme,threeotherCARICOMcountrieshavealsoembarkedontheInitiative:
Grenada,StVincentandtheGrenadines,whicharebothinimplementationstage,andStLucia.Inthese
threecountries,governancestructurehasbeenputinplacetofacilitateparticipativecoordinationofactions
andprogrammesthatcontributetotheaimoffullyeradicatinghunger.Likewise,activitiesthatpromote
betterhealthyfoodproductionatnationallevel,nutritionaleducationandschoolfeedinghavebeen
supported.
Additionally,theFAOhasgiventechnicalassistanceinsettingupfoodzonesinBarbados,Particularplotsof
landarenowallocatedintozonesthatarededicatedsolelytofoodproduction.
TheaimofthisinitiativeshouldservetostrengthenthefoodsecuritypositionofBarbados,byempowering
farmingcommunitiestoadequatelyrespondtomarketdemands,throughincreasedagriculturalproduction
andthecreationofsustainableagroprocessingbusinesses.Itishopedthatthefarmersoperatinginthe
centralzoneofSt.GeorgeanditsoutskirtsofSt.Michael,willbebetterequippedtorespondtothe
requirementsanddemandsofthemarketplaceandthattheseareaswillbecomeagriculturalhubsofthe
communitiesinwhichtheyarelocated.
FAOhasalsogivenaparticularimportanceinpromotingyoungpeopleinmostofitsactivities.Decent
employmentopportunitiesforyouth,workingtogetherwithexistinginstitutions,youthprojectsand
programmesaresupportedwhilecontributingtobetterfoodandfeedsystemsintheregion.Activitiesaimat
encouragingthepolicyenvironment,governanceandprogrammedevelopmentprocessesforyouth
participationdevelopingknowledgesharing,learningandcapacitybuildingopportunitiesandemployment
facilitationandtheadoptionofinnovativepracticeswithintheagriculturalsectorandrelatedindustries.
Inadditiontoagriculture,forestsareanimportantsourceofemployment.InAntigua,FAOsupportedthe
productionandmarketingofbotanicaljewellery.IncollaborationwithCANARI,FAOalsohelpstomentor
communitybasedecotourismbusinessesinStVincent.Youngpeople,withtheiraffectiontothenewsocial
media,arewellpositionedtobecomesuccessfulsalesagentsfortheseproducts.InDominica,FAO
currentlysupportsastocktakingexerciseanalysingtheongoingforestbasedbusinesseswiththeaimto
expandtheseintoaforestbasedlivelihoodprogramme.
SchoolfeedingprogrammesintheCaribbean,aselsewhere,havelongbeenestablishedandrecognisedas
animportantinstrumentinfacilitatinglearning,especiallyforpoorandvulnerableschoolchildren.More
recently,inLatinAmericaandtheCaribbean,whileschoolfeedingprogrammes(SFPs)maintaintheir
originalpurpose,thegoalsoftheseprogrammes,aswellastheformsofdeliveryoftheassistancehave
evolved.ExperiencewithSFPselsewhere,primarilyinBrazil,haspromptedCaribbeangovernmentsto
considerSFPsasanintegralpartoftheirsocialprotectionanddevelopmentstrategy.
FAOhascontributedtothedevelopmentoftheseprogrammesinAntiguaandBarbuda,JamaicaandSt.
Lucia.FAOsupportinSt.Luciaconsistsofprovidingtechnicalandfinancialaidwhichwillcontributetothe
developmentofSustainableSchoolFeedingPilotsintwoschools.Thiswillcontributethefulfilmentofthe
righttofoodforstudents.
TheexperienceinSaintLuciawillbesharedwithdifferentcountriesintheCaribbeanatthebeginningof
Decemberthisyear.
FAOlooksforwardtocontinuingtomakestridestothedevelopmentoftheregion.Weendeavourtoensure
thatsocialprotectioninitiativesarecloselylinkedtoourmandate,alwaysrememberingthatthelivesof
familiesandcommunitieslayattheheartofourwork.
FAOworkingtoreducepostharvestfoodlossinCARICOM
AprojectunderFAOsTechnicalCooperationProgrammeaimstochangethistroublingsituationby
reducingpostharvestlossesalongthefoodchainintheCARICOMSubregion.
(Bridgetown,8August,2015)Reducingfoodlossandwastageiscriticaltoimprovingglobalfoodsecurity.
Yet,thousandsofdollarsinfoodarewastedeveryyearintheCaribbeanduetopoorpracticesor
inadequatefacilitiesforstorageorpackaging,accordingtotheFoodandAgricultureOrganizationofthe
UnitedNations(FAO).Furthermore,theCaribbeanregionalsosuffersfromaninsufficientemphasison
recordingpostharvestlosses,resultinginapaucityofdatatocalculatethepercentagesoftheselosses.
AprojectunderFAOsTechnicalCooperationProgrammeaimstochangethistroublingsituationby
reducingpostharvestlossesalongthefoodchainintheCARICOMSubregion.
Undertheproject,FAO,incollaborationwiththeMinistryofAgriculture,Food,FisheriesandWater
ResourceManagementofBarbados,hostedaTrainerofTraineesworkshoponPostharvestLoss
ReductionwithemphasisonCassavaandTomatoes.Theweeklongworkshopwasheld2428August2015
attheBaobabTower,Warrens,St.Michael.
AttheOpeningSession,DrVyjayanthiLopez,FAOsPlantProductionandProtectionOfficer,statedthatin
developingcountries,morethan40%oflossesareincurredatpostharvesthandlingandprocessingstages
andasimilarpercentageattheretailandconsumerlevels.Thesehighfiguresshowtheimportanceofthe
reductionoffoodlossandwasteifwehavetoimprovetheglobalfoodsecurityandraisefarmerincomes.If
leftunabated,foodlossesandwastecanhavegreatimpactonfoodsecurity,foodqualityandsafety,and
economicdevelopmentandtheenvironment,remarkedDrLopez.
TwoexperiencedFAOConsultants,DrMajeedMohammedoftheUniversityoftheWestIndies(UWI),St.
AugustineandMrKelvinCraigofGuyanafacilitatedtheworkshopandprovidedtrainingtoextensionofficers
andresearchersonhowtoconductanindepthanalysisofpostharvestpracticesofcassavaandtomato.
Participantswerealsoabletogainamorecompleteunderstandingofthesystemwidenatureofthequality
ofdeteriorationandsubsequentlossesofcropsinordertoformulateappropriatesolutionsforquality
managementandlossreductionstrategiesatvariousCriticalLossPointsinthepostharvesthandling
system.
MrFarnum,theChiefActingOfficeroftheMinistryofAgriculture,acknowledgedthefactthatitwas
importanttoseektominimizelosses,andalsobemindfulofanypotentialthatmayexistfortheutilisationof
goodqualityproductwhichmaybeslightlybruised,forproductmashes,forshreddedproducts,aswellas
thepotentialfortheutilisationofsuchproductsforanimalfeeds.Heencouragedtheparticipantstoseek
waystomaximizeeconomicbenefitswhichcancomefromalternateusesofsuchvaluableresources.
MrFarnumalsoencouragedparticipantstoassistpersonsatthevariouslevelsofthevaluechainstoavoid
thescaleofeconomiclossesexperiencedinthepostharvestvaluechain,tobenefitnotonlytheagricultural
communitybutthevariouslevelsofvaluechains.
Todate,trainingactivitieshavebeencompletedin8countries,namelyAntiguaandBarbuda,Dominica,
Grenada,Jamaica,St.Lucia,St.VincentandtheGrenadines,SurinameandTrinidadandTobago.Training
eventsarealsoscheduledforSt.KittsandNevis,GuyanaandDominica,followedbyBelizeandThe
Bahamas.Thetraininghascoveredarangeofcropssuchasonions,tomato,dasheen,plantain,soursop,
cassava,pineapple,sweetpotato,pumpkin,papayaandyardlongbeans.Othercropsbeingcovered
includecornandhotpepper.

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