Civil Society Involvement in Food and Nutrition Security: Farmers Associations

REGIONAL DIALOGUE ON HUNGER ERADICATION IN THE CARIBBEAN:
RIGHT TO FOOD AND GOVERNANCE CHALLENGES
Caribbean Farmers Network (CaFAN) - Tel: 784 453 1004 - Fax: 784 453 1239 - Email: cafancaribbean@gmail.com
By Jethro Greene, Chief Coordinator
CaFAN Presentation
Civil society involvement in Food and
Nutrition Security: Farmers
associations
Antigua and Barbuda, Jolly Beach Resort
August 1-2, 2013

About CaFAN
• CaFAN (Caribbean Farmers Network inc.) established in 2002
as a regional network of Farmers Organizations (FO) within
the Caribbean region, with a mandate to represent farmers
regionally.
• Key Features of CaFAN:
– 500,000 Farmers in over 15 Countries
– Unique Farmers Network
– Unifying Network
– Active Communication Channels
– A Culture of Sharing & Capacity Building
– A Culture of Youth Succession
– A Culture of ACTION
• In 2006, the Eastern Caribbean Trading Agriculture and
Development Organisation (ECTAD) became its Secretariat.

Purpose of Presentation
• To highlight the challenges and successes
of small producers network, CaFAN in
improving food and nutrition security in
the Caribbean region.
Caribbean Farmers Network (CaFAN) - Tel:
784 453 1004 - Fax: 784 453 1239 - Email:
cafancaribbean@gmail.com

Agriculture and FNS
• There is an opportunity for linking agriculture to Health and
Nutrition since according to the Caribbean Food and
Nutrition Institute (CFNI), one of the main public health
problems in the Caribbean is related to food and nutrition –
in the form of Chronic Non Communicable Diseases
(CNCDs).
• Data shows serious deficit in staples, especially roots and
tubers, vegetables and legumes. These foods are high in
fibre, complex carbohydrates and low in calories compared
to the imported sources of carbohydrates in the Caribbean
such as pasta, refined wheat flour, pastries, etc., and the
antioxidant disease or fighting capacity of these foods
cannot be estimated.
784 453 1004 - Fax: 784 453 1239 - Email:

Cost of Nutrition-Related diseases
 NCDs are twice as costly to treat compared to other
diseases
 Direct cost of treating everyone with diabetes and
hypertension in the region:
US$691 million/annually (2% of GDP or 66% of current
expenditures on Public Health)
Cost of diabetes and hypertension attributable to
obesity is US$ 336 million annually (1 % of GDP or 32%
of current expenditures on Public Health)
784 453 1004 - Fax: 784 453 1239 - Email:
Source: CFNI, Agri-Food, Nutrition and Healthy: Capturing the Synergies, by Dr. Ballayram,
Food Economist – October 2010

What are the farmers are going to
address FNS issues?
• CaFAN farmers in collaboration with its partners are
working with focus on the production of nutritious
local foods not only for the purpose of making more
profits for farmers, creating employment and
increasing income but at the same time, contributing
significantly towards food availability and stabilizing
food security systems.
• CaFAN has collaborated with CARICOM Secretariat,
Agriculture Division on the Regional Food and Nutrition
Security Policy (RFNS) and the Community Agricultural
Policy (CAPS) to ensure that farmers have an input into
these policies.
784 453 1004 - Fax: 784 453 1239 - Email:

What are the farmers are going to
address FNS issues?
• With support from FAO under the EU’s All ACP
Commodities Project four of CaFAN member
organizations in four countries have received support
to boost their production of roots and tubers – eddoes,
sweet potato, cassava, dasheen. It also promotes the
consumption of these crops as part of our overall diet.
• In the next several months, CaFAN’s production of
roots and tubers will be extended to other countries
within the CaFAN network through a CIDA funded
PROPEL project which seeks to reduce the regions high
food import bill and encourage more local
consumption.
784 453 1004 - Fax: 784 453 1239 - Email:

SVG, Case Study
• With support from CTA, ECTAD launched a pilot project in
2007 in collaboration with the Government of SVG: Linking
Agriculture to Health and Nutrition
• The project was aimed at increasing the use of locally grown
nutritional food, particularly fruits, vegetables, roots and
tubers.
• Series of workshops and other promotional campaigns were
held across St. Vincent. Vincentians were encouraged to grow
backyard gardens to supplement the nutritious food basket
they purchase from the local markets and supermarkets.
• At present, three schools have been added to the program to
sensitize on the importance of agriculture and its like to FNS

Primary school student awareness workshop

784 453 1004 - Fax: 784 453 1239 - Email:
Secondary and Primary school students involved in school gardens

Jamaica Case Study
• One of CaFAN’s largest member, the Jamaica
Agricultural Society (JAS), is promoting at its
upcoming 59th annual Denbigh Agricultural
Industrial and Food Show from 30 July to 1
August. “Grow what you eat – eat what you
grow” as a continued effort to promote the use
of local foods in Jamaica.
• Christiana Potato Growers Association is
intensifying its efforts in production of roots and
tubers, fruits and vegetables with the aim of
import substitution.
784 453 1004 - Fax: 784 453 1239 - Email:

Farmers in Jamaica market Irish Potatoes

784 453 1004 - Fax: 784 453 1239 - Email:

Ensuring meaningful participation of
farmers in FNS
• Building a robust information-driven virtual
marketing mechanism which will supply large
retailers in the Caribbean.
• Promoting community markets and having the
necessary infrastructure in place to encourage
local consumption;
• Increasing access to working capital and boosting
cash flow for farmers
• Development of a buffer fund to allow farmers to
get paid in a timely basis. This fund is one critical
element if scaling-up is going to occur.

Conclusion
• CaFAN believes that the food and nutrition security
should not be the sole responsibility of the farmer, but
of the entire population.
• The approach is affordable food and not cheap food
• Getting the population to develop an appreciation for
agriculture, food and nutrition in their daily lives
• Import substitution must be linked to food availability
and food affordability
• Promote home and school gardening to complement
regular farming

THANK YOU!

Civil Society Involvement in Food and Nutrition Security: Farmers Associations

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Civil Society Involvement in Food and Nutrition Security: Farmers Associations