Chesney: Co-operation needed

AGAINST the backdrop of rising food prices and the threats associated with climate change, Executive Director of the Caribbean Agriculture Research and Development Institute (CARDI), Dr. Arlington Chesney, believes that stakeholders now more than ever must work closer together.

His comments came in the form of a message during a recent open day held at the Graeme Hall Field Station in Barbados. He explained that the open days were started back in 2008 against the backdrop of rising food prices and the greater incidence and intensity of severe natural disasters in the Region.

“Unfortunately, in 2013 the situation remains basically the same. Food prices, particularly of basic staples, remain high and perhaps, more importantly very volatile, making it difficult for planning.

“Climate Change is also now a total reality, impacting not only on productivity, but in pest and disease incidence and the management of soil and water resources and the biodiversity. Further, we have seen that the majority of countries in the region are undergoing tremendous financial and economic stresses causing them to relook at the whole development approach.”

He said that these situ-ations mean that CARDI must work much more closely with its stakeholders, particularly Governments, strategic partners like the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), the Inter-American Institute for Co-operation on Agriculture (IICA), farmers associations and clients to ensure that its research for development makes a major impact on agriculture, as a major economic driver in the sustainability of the region’s economy.

“As a result of this necessity, CARDI, FAO and IICA have started a process of working much more closely together so as to optimise the potential benefits of the limited resources that we singly and collectively have.

“It is expected that the fruit of this work will start to be seen in early 2014 as together we meet with stakeholders in each country to chart our Work Programmes for the short and medium term. We believe that this will allow countries to make much better use of resources of our three Institutions. CARDI, as Chair of the Agriculture Cluster of CARICOM Institutions will play a major role in leading this process. We seek your support,” he stated.

“At all times, it must be remembered that CARDI works for you, the individual entrepreneurs, the Ministries related to Agriculture and Rural Development, Member States singly and collectively, and others in the agricultural sector,” he said. (JH)