GEORGETOWN, Guyana, Sept 24, CMC – Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretary General, Dr. Carla Barnett says the upcoming Caribbean week of Agriculture (CWA) will focus on key climate change matters which are crucial to securing food, and increasing sustainable production, adaptation and mitigation.
The 18th edition of the CWA will take place in St. Vincent and the Grenadines from October 7-11, under the theme “‘Climate-Smart Agriculture for a Sustainable Future’.
It is described as the region’s premier agricultural event that was conceptualised by the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) as an opportunity to place agriculture and rural life on the front burner of regional integration activities.
“In alignment with the goals of CARICOM’s 25 by 2025 Initiative, CWA 2024 adopts a pragmatic approach, focusing on key climate change matters which are crucial to securing food, and increasing sustainable production, adaptation and mitigation,” said Barnett.
“Seminars will focus on actions, solutions and innovative technologies to enhance the resilience and sustainability of agrifood systems against extreme weather events,” she added.
The CARICOM Secretariat said that the five-day event will feature workshops and seminars coordinated by partners in regional agriculture.
“Through these sessions, participants will benefit from the exchange of information and best practices on safeguarding agriculture in a changing climate; climate-smart fishing with a focus on sargassum; young people as champions of regional food systems; food security and nutrition; women farmers’ pathways after Hurricane Beryl; digital agriculture in the Caribbean; and human resource development in the sector.”
The organisers said that this year’s CWA is intended to coordinate efforts to reduce the impact of climate change on food production systems and encourage investment in climate-smart actions.
The event will serve as a platform to engage key stakeholders in agriculture in both the public and private sectors, and foster partnerships that are crucial for sustainable agricultural development.
“The CWA is a true testament of the level of commitment and value that the Region places on food and nutrition security. The Region is energized and ready to secure its future and play its role in achieving zero hunger,” said Shaun Baugh, Programme Manager, Agriculture and Agro-Industrial Development at the CARICOM Secretariat.
The week will feature the launches of the Comprehensive Action on Climate Change (CACCI) Project by the IICA and the Caribbean Tree-Planting Initiative by the Agriculture Alliance of the Caribbean (AACARI).
Helen’s Daughters – a St.Lucia-based non-profit organisation that works to empower rural women, will also launch a documentary titled ‘Roots of Resilience: Stories of Caribbean Women in Agriculture’.
One of the highlights of the CWA is the Trade Show and Expo which promotes agri-businesses, knowledge-sharing and exploration of modern technologies in the sector.
High-level ministerial and board of directors’ meetings of regional institutions (COTED) will also be convened over the five days, the CARICOM Secretariat added.
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