Roles for both public, private sectors to push agriculture – CARICOM DSG at CWA opening

Both the public and private sectors must play their roles in order for the Region’s agricultural sector to achieve its full potential, Ambassador Dr. Manorma Soeknandan, Deputy Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) said Wednesday.

The Deputy Secretary-General made the point as she delivered remarks at the official opening of the Caribbean Week of Agriculture (CWA) 2014, in Paramaribo, Suriname. The CWA is being held at the Suriname Chamber of Commerce.

Ambassador Soeknandan highlighted as one of the major challenges: the ability to attract sufficient resources to the sector. Enough resources, she said, would have the effect of stimulating the required increases in production and productivity. The CWA, she said, was an opportunity for developing the appropriate policy, and implementing the recommendations that emerge from the sessions.

Hundreds of persons involved in the agriculture sector, ranging from famers and technical experts to policy-makers are in Paramaribo for the six-day CWA which got underway on Monday.  Participants are engaged in a range of seminars, workshops, meetings and field trips all aimed at promoting the agriculture sector in the Region. CWA also features an exhibition and trade show. The CWA is being held under the theme Transforming Caribbean Agriculture through Family Farming.

Specifically addressing the CWA’s theme, the Deputy Secretary-General pointed to the positive social and economic benefits of family farming. She said that urban planning was of utmost importance and challenged the Region to ensure that there were appropriate policies and an institutional framework in place to support family farming, particularly with respect to education, technology, financing, marketing and other services.

Agriculture, Ambassador Soeknandan said, was one of the priority focal areas identified in CARICOM’s Five-Year Strategic Plan for propelling the Region in its efforts towards economic resilience and sustainable growth. The Five-Year Plan was approved by Heads of Government of CARICOM in July 2014.