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Barbados and FAO
Partnering to achieve sustainable agricultural development and food safety
During the past two decades, FAO has been an important partner in Barbados’ drive to achieve its agricultural and rural
development priorities, including natural resource management and – more recently – response to climate change. The
Organization has provided critical technical assistance and financial support, while mobilizing other international partners in
the process. Delivered through FAO’s Technical Cooperation Programme, interventions have comprised policy formulation and
implementation in areas related to crops, livestock, fisheries and forestry as well as food quality and safety.
Improving food and nutrition security is an overriding goal for
Barbados and a top priority area of cooperation with FAO. As a
food-deficit island state with a high food import bill, Barbados
faces the challenge of ensuring its population has adequate
access to stable food supplies – a challenge that has been
aggravated by a steady rise in food prices in recent years.
Within the framework of the Regional Policy Food and
Nutrition Security Policy and Action Plan for CARICOM
countries, Barbados and FAO have worked together to develop
a national Food and Nutrition Security (FNS) Policy and Action
Plan. Aimed at achieving the optimum degree of self-reliance,
the strategy is to maximize domestic food production, using
indigenous raw materials and local human and natural
resources. Careful attention is also paid to ensuring households
have sufficient knowledge and resources for accessing food
that is safe, affordable and nutritious.
A media campaign was launched to increase Barbadians’
awareness of issues related to food and nutrition and to
encourage greater production and consumption of local
products.
As part of FAO’s support to implementation of the
FNS Policy and Action Plan, the Ministry of Agriculture
received assistance in developing a computer-based farm
management business tool for livestock production.
Subregional Project for the preparation of National Food and Nutrition
Security Policies and Action Programmes in the Member States of the
Caribbean Community. Funded by FAO’s Technical Cooperation Programme.
Contacts
John Ronald Deep Ford
Caribbean FAO Coordinator and Representative in
Barbados
FAO Representation,
United Nations House, Marine Gardens, Christ Church,
Barbados
Tel.: +1 246 4267110
E-mail: FAO-BAR@fao.org
Aligning FAO expertise with Barbados’
development priorities
FAO assistance in Barbados is shaped by the 2012-2016
FAO Country Programming Framework (CPF), which hinges
on four priority areas:
Food and nutrition security, targeting the
enhancement of productivity and competitiveness to
facilitate an increase in market share of domestic food
consumption
Enhancing productivity and competitiveness of
agriculture and fisheries, by creating conditions
favourable for import substitution and greater
penetration of external markets
Sustainable development of agriculture and fisheries
resources, with a dual focus on i) natural resource
management and improved response to climate
change; and ii) the management and development of
fisheries resources
Agricultural health and food safety, with a focus
on the control of invasive pests and diseases through
improved quality control and assurance programmes as
well as regulatory frameworks
Jointly developed with the Government, and key
agriculture sector stakeholders, the CPF responds to
challenges identified in Barbados’ National Medium-Term
Development Strategy and reflects relevant priorities in
its Agriculture Policy and Five Year Strategic Plan (20122016).
The CPF supports FAO’s corporate objectives and regional
priorities for Latin America and the Caribbean, and it is
aligned with the UN Development Assistance Framework
for Barbados and the Organization of Eastern Caribbean
States (OECS) 2012-2016.
5/2015
Food and Nutrition Security Policy
and Action Plan
Agricultural market information system
Agriculture continues to be critical to the sustainable
economic development of Barbados, a middle-income
but very small developing country. Sound agricultural
statistics and related information systems are critical
for repositioning its agriculture sector and overcoming
challenges such as high global energy costs, climate
change, declining agricultural exports and low domestic
production.
In an effort to strengthen
marketing intelligence and
extension systems and
improve both market and
production efficiencies,
the Government and
FAO have developed
a comprehensive and
integrated market
information system for
agriculture. The system
is being used by the
Planning Division of the Ministry of Agriculture to provide
information that will support decision-making by the full
range of stakeholders.
Project funded by FAO’s Technical Cooperation Programme.
Stepping up plant quarantine procedures
Improved quality and safety in the fish
supply chain
Fishing is an important commercial and cultural activity
and the fisheries sector contributes to Barbadians’ food
and nutrition security, economic development and social
well-being. Approximately 6 000 people are engaged
across the industry, either directly (fishermen, processors,
distributors, boat builders and traders) or indirectly (e.g.
boatbuilding and hospitality).
Given the high demand
for fish and fisheries
products, the sector has
strong potential for growth,
including through exports of
preserved and processed fish
products and food import
substitution.
“Small island developing
states face considerable
challenges, but they also
have great potential.”
José Graziano da Silva
FAO Director-General
To improve competitiveness and market access for
fish and fishery products while increasing consumer
protection and food security, the Government and FAO
have implemented a fish quality and safety project.
The project is also enabling Barbados to comply with
its obligations under WTO’s SPS Agreement. National
workshops were staged and recommendations produced
to improve quality and safety in preparation, storage and
display of fish for sale.
The incidence of intraregional and international trade,
as well as the number of people entering and leaving
Barbados are very high. This poses a serious threat
to agriculture, as animals, plants and people have
considerable exposure to pest and disease risks.
With a view to ensuring the
safety of traded and sold
products and preventing the
entry, establishment and
spread of pests in Barbados,
agricultural health and food
safety regulatory services
are being strengthened and
modernized. FAO, for example,
has provided necessary
technical assistance for the
development of a Plant Quarantine Procedures Manual
to support inspection and surveillance activities.
Project: Development of Manuals for Quarantine Inspection Officers in
Barbados. Funded by FAO’s Technical Cooperation Programme.
©FAO
Prepared with broad-based input from across the sector,
the manual is a hands-on tool for aiding plant quarantine
officers protect plant germplasm against direct and
indirect effects of introduced pests. It also contributes
to the country’s compliance with relevant international
agreements signed by Barbados, for example the
WTO Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and
Phytosanitary measures (SPS Agreement) and the
International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC).