OECS Council of Ministers for Agriculture meeting yields significant progress

 ST LUCIA / ST VINCENT – Ministers and technical workers for Agriculture within the OECS met for a particular assembly on Might 2, 2025, at Myah’s Lodge in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. Chaired by Lennox Andrews of Grenada, the discussions centered on advancing regional agricultural manufacturing and strengthening meals safety amidst challenges posed by local weather change and exterior commerce and financial insurance policies.

The Organisation of Japanese Caribbean States has taken proactive steps that may domesticate a sustainable future in agriculture amongst members. ​

Director Normal of the OECS Fee Dr Didacus Jules in his presentation defined that OECS international locations are at the moment importing as much as 90 % of their meals which is essentially influenced by the tourism sector. He defined that shifting from meals safety to meals sovereignty is important to lowering publicity to commerce disruptions. Dr Jules outlined a number of key components influencing this shift, together with the Russia-Ukraine conflict, COVID-19, and growing world commerce nationalism, all of which have exacerbated vulnerabilities in regional meals methods.

Ministers agreed that agricultural growth should transcend manufacturing will increase, requiring a systems-based strategy that comes with transportation, packaging, requirements assist, and farmer help. Among the many main selections taken through the assembly have been:

• Three new pillars for Resilience & Autonomy – A framework specializing in native manufacturing, regional commerce, and strategic self-reliance with an implementation timeline from 2025 to 2035.
• Agriculture & Fisheries Insurance coverage Scheme – To guard farmers in opposition to pure disasters and local weather shocks.
• Scaling Up Candy & White Potato Manufacturing – Coaching applications will probably be applied throughout Member States to extend native meals availability.
• Strategic Partnerships with Africa to spice up manufacturing of commerce in choose commodities.
• Flagship Agricultural Interventions (2025–2027) – Together with a regional meals buffer inventory, digital meals sovereignty dashboard, agro-Small Micro Enterprise (SME) financing through diaspora bonds, and solar-powered chilly storage and irrigation hubs.
• Governance & Monitoring Frameworks – Institution of the OECS Meals Sovereignty and Resilience Council to supervise implementation efforts and coordinate responses to meals crises.

The Ministers additionally mentioned the potential influence of latest exterior commerce and financial insurance policies on the area’s agriculture sector, together with their impacts on exports, implications for home meals costs and the area’s provide chains. On this context, Ministers noticed the necessity for the OECS to quick observe the implementation of the Meals and Agriculture Methods Transformation (FAST) Technique to boost meals safety and meals sovereignty.

Ministers agreed to fast-track implementation, mobilize funding, and start a 12-month transition plan to align nationwide agricultural methods with the FAST Technique. By securing legislative assist for meals sovereignty, OECS Member States intend to take daring steps towards lowering reliance on imports, strengthening vitamin, and positioning regional agriculture as a key driver of financial development and growth.