| Segurança Alimentar e Luta contra a Fome |
| Nos países Andinos |
| Mercosul Ampliado |
| América Central |
| Food Security |
Food Security in CARIFORUM Countries Productivity Enhancement, Trade Facilitation and Food Policy EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Food security outcomes in CARIFORUM countries are based on a number of considerations, inter alia, a) declines in productivity of land, labor, and management in the agricultural sector, resulting in a weakened capacity to supply food competitively b) declines in earnings from traditional crops, resulting in a reduced ability to purchase food c) the erosion and threatened loss of trade preferences for traditional export crops, the earnings of which are utilized to purchase imported food d) the very high dependence on imported food and the uncertainty of food arrival associated with events such as the September 11 incidents in the USA e) the increasing incidence of pockets of poverty in many countries, implying that portions of the population have difficulty in accessing sufficient food and f) concerns over the association of the high use of imported foods and the growing incidence in the region of food related diseases such as obesity, hypertension, cancer and diabetes. In the post 1994 international economic order characterised by trade liberalisation and globalisation, the ability of small countries generally and island states in particular, to compete economically in the world market has become critical to the survival of their agricultural sectors and rural communities. Among others, the World Trade Organization (WTO), in defining the Caribbean Community states as "small, dependent, vulnerable, open, and primarily single sectored" has recognized the importance and limitations of these characteristics and the potential impact on trade arrangements for food security. Farmers in the Caribbean face specific challenges in terms of production technology, especially small farmers who produce for domestic consumption and export. Traditional farm practices and inappropriate use of inputs have resulted in low productivity and uneconomic production systems. Mechanisation is low due to the lack of appropriate farm machinery adapted to smallholders' needs and capacities. Research and associated new technology cycles on small holder agriculture are very limited. It is important to food security in the region to introduce improved practices that increase productivity, intensification and diversification of production systems. The lack of organizational and institutional capacity in the market and trade areas in these countries continues to undermine their ability to earn and transform. For all of the agricultural product producers, access to marketing infrastructure and services at resonable costs, remains a constraint. This includes the need for country collection points, adequate storage and packaging installations, and regular, low-cost local, intra- and extra-regional transportation facilities. Given the percentage of the household food basket that is purchased and the proportion of total food supply imported, facilitating marketing, trade and negotiations is important to ensuring stable income earning capacity at both the individual and national levels. Across the Caribbean region, the absence of a policy environment that provides incentives for agricultural production and trade, and that promotes agricultural and food related human health is seen as a major challenge. In terms of incentives, the main challenges are related to correcting the bias against the agricultural and rural sector, policy consistency and continuity over time, and social policy and safety nets in the increasingly uncertain global environment. In the context of agricultural health, globalization and trade liberalization have introduced more openness and with this has come many risks related to agricultural health and human health. This reality has increased the need for improved sanitary and phytosanitary regulations as well as attention for food health related education and food product choices. The latter is an increasing concern with the rise of fast food outlets across the region. Weak regional and national information systems underline many of the constraints mentioned above. Across the region the information system constraints identified have included: lack of timeliness of information particularly as it relates to supply and demand information and to trading decisions; accuracy of data as it relates to survey methodology and the training of data collectors; reluctance of farmers to provide data as well as the provision of inaccurate data due to the lack of record keeping; high turnover of staff in general and especially related to information system work; absence of market analysis and market situation reports particularly as it relates to forecasting supply; cost of procuring international information; the fragmented nature of the sources of information and the absence of regional and national networks for obtaining information. Food insecurity in the Caribbean remains a major challenge and there is great pressure on governments to develop adequate responses in order to mitigate further impacts of the changing international economic environment. There are few general options: to increase productivity and competitiveness in the production sector ; and to promote actions which facilitate and develop the capacity of its trading sector to market products and thereby earn income. A growing concern over food safety and food health related illnesses makes the improvement of food policy planning and execution capacity an imperative. The strategy includes three related components: (i) The Smallholder Enhancement component of the program introduces measures to improve small holder productivity and competitiveness. It includes activities on :
(ii) The Trade Facilitation Component of the program
seeks to promote
(iii) The Food Policies component promotes the development of food policies which links nutrition and health outcomes to food policy decisions and food product development to promote healthy lifestyles. It includes activities on :
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