Presentación realizada por Saboto Caesar, Ministro de Agricultura, Bosques, Pesca, Transformación Rura e Industria de St. Vincent and the Grenadines. IV Foro del Frente Parlamentario contra el Hambre de América Latina y el Caribe. 4 y 5 de septiembre, Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia.
Saboto Caesar - The political commitment to food security in the Caribbean
1. The Political Commitment
To Food Security In The
Caribbean
By Honorable Saboto Caesar
Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries,
Rural Transformation and Industry
St. Vincent and the Grenadines
3. Economy of St. Vincent and
the Grenadines
Population size: 110,000
Characterized as a highly migrant
population
Agriculture backbone of the economy
Banana production
Root crops
Tourism
Tree crops
Fisheries sector
5. International FAO Recognition
In 2013 FAO recognized 18 countries (Armenia, Azerbaijan,
Cuba, Djibouti, Georgia, Ghana, Guyana, Kuwait,
Kyrgyzstan, Nicaragua, Peru, St. Vincent and the
Grenadines, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Thailand,
Turkmenistan, Venezuela, and Vietnam).
Millennium Development Goal (MDG), No. 1, of halving the
proportion of hungry people
World Food Summit (WFS) goal set in 1996, of reducing by half the
total number of undernourished people between 1990 – 1992 and
2010 – 2012.
6. Towards Zero Hunger and
Undernourishment
Zero Hunger Project St. Vincent and the
Grenadines
Continue multi-sectoral initiatives in agriculture,
education, heath, social development and rural
transformation
Identify everyone of the 5000 persons who is in
the undernourished category
7. Towards Zero Hunger and
Undernourishment
Refine the National Food Production Plan.
Targeted resources would be made available
within the overall policy for economic growth and
food security.
Ensure that the safety net/social protection
provisions take care of the deserving and not the
undeserving
8. Towards Zero Hunger and
Undernourishment
Coordinate optimally work between the Ministry
of Agriculture and all relevant stakeholder
Mobilize the entire country behind the Zero
Hunger Project.
9. Towards Zero Hunger and
Undernourishment
Work assiduously with all developmental
partners, such as the Caribbean Development
Bank, OECS, CARICOM, FAO, World Bank,
Petro Caribe (including Petro Alimentos) and
ALBA
Establish a multi-sectoral, inter-ministerial
National Committee for the Zero Hunger Project
under the Chairmanship of the Prime Minister.
Thus, between 1990 – 1992, and 2010 – 2012 in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, the proportion of the under-nourished fell from 19.2 percent to 4.9 percent; and the absolute number of under-nourished persons dropped from twenty one thousand (21,000) to five thousand (5,000)
The 18 countries which have secured these remarkable twin-achievements are: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Cuba, Djibouti, Georgia, Ghana, Guyana, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Nicaragua, Peru, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Thailand, Turkmenistan, Venezuela, and Vietnam.
, including farmers, fisherfolk, and their representative organizations, to make certain that the agreed plans for quality food production and distribution are implemented properly.