Caricom SG lauds region-wide success of Pres Ali’s ‘25 by 2025’ initiative

– urges full speed ahead on expansion of food security efforts, new targets

Secretary General (SG) of Caribbean Community (Caricom) Dr Carla Barnette has lauded the region-wide success of the 25 by 2025 initiative, the brainchild of President Dr Irfaan Ali, noting that member states have made significant progress implementing it in the penultimate year of the initiative.
The SG was at the time addressing the opening ceremony of the 18th Caribbean Week of Agriculture (CWA) in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. In her address, she spoke of the progress made on implementation of the 25 by 2025, which envisions the reduction of the Caribbean food import bill by 25 per cent by 2025.
“This 18th Caribbean Week of Agriculture takes on added significance, as it is the penultimate year of our regional strategy to reduce our food import bill by 25% by the year 2025. The needle is moving on this programme, and the Member States have been implementing successful initiatives,” she said.
“Beyond 2025, as President Ali, who is Lead head on Agriculture, has said, we will take stock, renew our efforts to increase even further, and set new targets as we move ahead. We need increased investment, increased knowledge-sharing, and partnership across the Region and beyond, as we take full advantage of the opportunities inherent in new technologies and methodologies of Climate-Smart Agriculture.”
According to Barnett, the region must expand production and reduce the food import bill by 25% by 2025. At the same time, however, Barnett highlighted the damage that has been done to the regional agriculture sector. This is due to natural disasters such as Hurricane Beryl earlier in the year, which wreaked havoc in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Barbados, St. Lucia, Grenada, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago.
“Member States have also suffered losses to their production due to the hurricane we experienced three months ago. There is more to be done. We must celebrate the positive outcomes that have been achieved, and we must prepare to do things differently and better as we move ahead,” Barnett said.
“Our goal must remain as it has always been – to create a resilient agricultural sector that withstands the vagaries of climate change, contributes to the economic vitality of the Region, and takes into account the food and nutrition security of future generations. The collaborative approach, such as that demonstrated by this event, is essential in addressing the multifaceted challenges posed by climate change.”
Barnett urged the region to use the opportunity to “sow the seeds of change” and work towards a future where the Caribbean leads by example in climate-smart agriculture. As such, she expressed optimism for what the future holds for the region.
“CARICOM is committed to fostering regional cooperation and knowledge-sharing that will propel us towards a greener, more resilient agricultural sector. The representation from the farming community, women, indigenous and youth groups, regional and international development partners, academia, government and the private sector.”
“The Week’s focus on the unique considerations for some sectors, indicates our collective commitment to transform agriculture into a more productive, resilient, inclusive and sustainable sector,” Barnett further explained.
Meanwhile, the fact that St. Vincent and the Grenadines is hosting the CWA even as it rebuilds from Hurricane Beryl, was commended by the SG. According to her, the implementation of climate-smart agriculture will greatly aid the region in tackling two issues at once… food security and climate change.
Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) is an approach that can help us to tackle the intertwined issues of food security and climate change, and embed resilience and sustainable agricultural production methods at the heart of our agriculture.
“Climate change is an enduring reality, and its effects are being felt in our nations, our communities and in our lives. It is therefore imperative that we identify and embrace new strategies to navigate the dynamic environment which we inhabit.”
“Our unique vulnerabilities demand that new technologies, techniques, tools and equipment are harnessed to efficiently and sustainably increase agricultural production, productivity and incomes.”
Vision 25 by 2025” was first conceptualized by President Ali and aims for the Caribbean to achieve a 25 per cent reduction in the Region’s food import bill by the year 2025. Owing to the Region’s dependency on imported foods, it faces hardships when disruptions occur. And in light of this, the intention is to formulate a sense of food stability and security. As of February, this year, 70 per cent of the ’25 by 2025’ target had been met.