This document summarizes experiences with and initiatives to support family farming in the Caribbean region. It discusses how family farming is a traditional system that supports livelihoods through crops, livestock, aquaculture and more. Key initiatives described include sustainable land management, land banking programs, improved technologies/capacity building, and school and backyard gardening programs. Major challenges include lack of irrigation water and losses from theft. The document outlines two regional policies that guide efforts to strengthen family farming.

1. CARIBBEAN EXPERIENCES
IN DEVELOPING FAMILY
FARMING
REGIONAL DIALOGUE ON FAMILY
FARMING:
TOWARDS THE INTERNATIONAL YEAR
OF FAMILY FARMING 1
Santiago, Chile
October 30-31, 2013
Prepared by;
Vernet James
Saint Lucia

2. INTRODUCTION


In most Caribbean countries the
concept of family farming is
relatively new with most farmers
because many are not familiar with
the term.
In the livestock sector, most of the
enterprises have been
predominantly family farming.

3. INTRODUCTION (cont’d)

However, efforts are underway to
change this because of the role it
plays in our current food and
nutrition security needs with the
current global economic crisis facing
us all. Also to ensure that there is a
continuum in the Agricultural Sector
of our various countries.

4. INTRODUCTION (cont’d)

These traditional systems contribute
directly to the livelihoods of millions
of small-scale farmers and their
families in our sub-region, which
makes it possible to access
vegetables, meat products and fish
on their tables.

5. PRODUCTION ENTERPRISES






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Crop & Seedling Production
Livestock
Aquaculture
Fisheries
Forestry
Ornamentals
Agro-Processing, Craft, Agrotourism

6. CARIBBEAN POLICY STATEMENTS

Two main policies which govern our
agriculture in the region, have been used to
strategically reposition the concept of
family farming and to revitalize the smallscale farming sector.

7. CARIBBEAN POLICY STATEMENTS
The Regional Food and Nutrition Policy and
Action Plan (2011)

To strengthen agricultural production, marketing
systems and enterprises including building up
institutional capacity to support their development.

To promote the consumption of safe and nutritious
food.
To ensure stability of food supplies.


8. CARIBBEAN POLICY STATEMENTS
The Community Agriculture Policy (CAP).
 The policy supports several issues of
interest to small farming including
innovative approaches to agriculture. credit
production (credit and market credit), risk
management and disaster, agriculture
research and quality control, extension
services, value chains and agri-business.

9. CARIBBEAN INITIATIVES

-
Sustainable Land Management
Plans
Zoning: The proper use and development of
lands for crops, livestock and aquaculture.
Ensuring sustainability of our natural resources
and environment.
- Land Bank Programs: Government led
initiatives for young farm families, through the
acquisition of agricultural dormant lands.

10. CARIBBEAN INITIATIVES

Improved Technologies &
Capacity Building:
Green House Technologies
- Aquaculture
- Farmer Field School
- Irrigation & Rain Water Harvesting Practices
-

11. CARIBBEAN INITIATIVES
-Tissue
Culture (Most countries are focusing
on the use of improved germ-plasm,
through tissue culture and or well managed
plant seedling nurseries.

12. CARIBBEAN INITIATIVES
 Improved
Technologies &
Capacity Building
Farmer Certification program/ Good
Agricultural Practices
(capacity building in food safety and fresh
produce quality control).
- The use of modern facilities for rearing
of small ruminants and Poultry, with
establish feeding regimes.
-

13. CARIBBEAN INITIATIVES

The development of our Health &
Wellness agro-sector, through the
production , education and processing of
herbs & spices, in order to combat
nutrition-related health problems.

14. CARIBBEAN INITIATIVES
The Food Based Dietary Guidelines
developed and instituted through our
Caribbean region;
It fosters further growth and sustainability of
our small scale farmers, (by developing
demand-side drivers) from the rising
educational demands of a populous who
have been caused to shift its habitual eating
patterns.


15. CARIBBEAN INITIATIVES

School Agriculture:
-
School Base Learning programs
School Feeding /School Garden Programs
Food & Nutrition Programs
School Gardens/ Home Garden Initiatives
-

16. CARIBBEAN INITIATIVES
Backyard Gardening Programs;
Several Governments through their
Ministries of Agriculture, and other
NGO’s have dedicated substantive
resources to promote and to
provide technical support to the
practice of home or backyard
gardening in the region.


17. Backyard Gardening - Vegetables &
Rabbits

18. CHALLENGES
o
o
In general, water for irrigation is a
major constraint for most small
scale farmers.
While the challenges to access
available water are most severe for
hillside farmers , the majority of
small farmers are exposed to the
potential risk of crop loss and poor
pasture performance due to drought
conditions.

19. CHALLENGES
Small farmer using harvested
rainwater in Jamaica
Rainwater harvesting in Dominica

20. CHALLENGES


-
In addition small scale farmers experience
serious loss of harvest in crops, livestock
and fisheries including freshwater
aquaculture from theft (praedial larceny)
Some other factors that pose challenges
are;
High input cost
Access to credit, especially low interest.
Farm access roads, transportation of
produce and inputs.

21. REFERENCES