Emphasis on promoting consumption of locally produced foods key to reducing food import bill – Mia Mottley

Emphasis must be placed on the promotion on the consumption of locally produced foods through awareness campaigns if the Caribbean Community is to see a drastic reduction in its food import bill. This is according to Barbados PM, Mia Mottley.

Before the launch of the 25 by 25 initiative, the Caribbean region faced a significant challenge with its food import bill, which placed considerable strain on the economies of member states and raised concerns about food security and sustainability.
Prior to the implementation of the 25 by 25 initiative, which was formally introduced around 2015, the Caribbean’s total food import bill was estimated to be approximately US$ 5 billion annually which represented a substantial portion of the region’s overall import expenditure and underscored the heavy reliance on imported food products.

Food bill
Guyana imports approximately US$ 350 million annually. Despite its agricultural potential, Guyana imported a significant volume of processed foods and staples not produced locally in sufficient quantities.
Trinidad and Tobago – around US$ 1.2 billion annually. As one of the most import-dependent countries in the region, Trinidad and Tobago’s food import bill was driven by its limited agricultural sector and high urban population.
Barbados – approximately US$ 400 million annually. Barbados, with limited arable land, relied heavily on imports for most of its food needs.
Jamaica – estimated at US$ 1.1 billion annually. Jamaica’s food import bill was fuelled by demand for staples such as rice, wheat, and processed foods.
St. Lucia – around US$ 150 million annually. St. Lucia’s import bill reflected its small size and dependence on imported staples and processed foods.
St. Kitts and Nevis – an estimated at US$ 80 million annually. The twin-island nation’s food import bill was significant relative to its population size.
Dominica – approximately US$ 90 million annually. Dominica’s import bill was influenced by its agricultural production capacity and vulnerability to natural disasters.
The US$ 5 billion annual bill which covered the region, was as a result of limited agricultural production.
Many Caricom states have limited arable land and face challenges such as poor soil quality, water scarcity, and vulnerability to natural disasters, which restrict local food production.
Additionally, limited investment in agriculture and infrastructure hindered the ability to scale up local food production across the region.
Additionally, increasing urbanisation and changing consumer preferences have led to higher demand for imported processed and convenience foods.
Apart from that, heavy reliance on imports, discouraged investment in local agriculture and rural development.
Recognising these challenges, Caribbean leaders launched the 25 by 25 initiative with the goal of reducing the region’s food import bill by 25 percent by 2025. The initiative aimed to stimulate local agricultural production, improve food security, and promote sustainable economic growth and to build a more resilient and self-sufficient Caribbean food system.
The 20 by 2025, initiative has been extended to 2030, with new goals. This extension was announced by President Dr Irfaan Ali, the lead head of government with responsibility for agriculture and food security in the CARICOM quasi-cabinet.
The reason given for the extension is uncertainties in the global trade arena, increased challenges in climate-related matters, and increased transportation and logistics costs.
According to President Ali, from the year 2022, to the end of October-November 2024, there has been about a 24 percent increase in food production across the region.
Additionally, there has also been major investments in infrastructure to support food production in areas such as cold storage, farm-to-market access roads, solar dryer facilities, loan approvals, and establishment of dairy facilities.
Caricom’s Chairperson, Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley addressing the CARICOM Heads of Government summit in February, which was held in Barbados, pointed out that the reduction of food imports since the launch of the initiative, has seen Guyana has achieving an estimated 13 percent reduction in its food import bill.
This is largely attributed to increased production of staple crops such as rice, cassava, and vegetables, as well as expanded livestock farming.
Rice production in Guyana has increased by approximately 8 percent over the past five years, making it one of the leading rice exporters in the Caribbean. The boost in production has helped reduce the need for rice imports within the region.
Guyana has also seen the cultivation of cassava and other root crops has expanded by nearly 10 percent, providing affordable and locally grown alternatives to imported foods while livestock and poultry farming have resulted in a 12 percent increase in local meat and egg production, further reducing dependence on imported protein sources.
Across the Caribbean, the 25 by 25 initiative has led to an overall reduction of approximately 11 percent in the region’s food import bill since its inception. Countries such as Jamaica, Barbados, and Trinidad and Tobago have all reported positive gains, though progress varies depending on each nation’s agricultural capacity and investment levels.
Mottley also noted that the initiative has also fostered greater regional cooperation, knowledge sharing, and innovation in agricultural practices.
However, challenges remain, including vulnerability to climate change, limited access to financing for small farmers, and infrastructural deficits.
According to the CARICOM Chairperson, increased investment in agriculture is needed across the region which will result in expanded financial support for agricultural research, infrastructure, and technology adoption will be critical to enhancing productivity.
She says there must also be support for small farmers by providing access to credit, training, and markets.
Additionally, focus must be on climate-smart agriculture so that sustainable farming practices are implementing to mitigate climate risks and protect food production from extreme weather events.
All this could fail Mottley adds if emphasis is also placed on promoting the consumption of locally produced foods through awareness campaigns.
Just recently, a Region 9 millet trial in Guyana proved successful to be expanded in future cultivations. Millet is considered a climate-resilient cereal.