Hurricane Beryl dealt a “serious blow” to Grenada’s efforts to reduce its food import bill by 25 percent by next year, the Hon. Dickon Mitchell, Prime Minister of Grenada said.

The Category 4 hurricane hit Grenada, particularly Carriacou and Petite Martinique, on 1 July 2024.

At a press conference on Tuesday 9 July, the Prime Minister, who is also the Chairman of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), provided an analysis of the agriculture sector in the aftermath of the hurricane and the steps Grenada is taking to cushion the impact on the populace.

He said the hurricane has pushed back Grenada’s progress on the 25 by 2025 Initiative between five and seven years.

But he is optimistic that, with government’s support, there will be a quick reboot of poultry farming. He also encouraged the use of greenhouses and shade houses to increase crop yields and production.

“There may be some greater resilience in using technology to produce food, in particular short crops,” he said.