Study on the State of Agriculture in the Caribbean

Book excerpt: This report supports the development of the new Caribbean Development Bank's agricultural policy and strategy by identifying key trends in agriculture in Borrowing Member Countries, as well as opportunities for investment to promote growth and ensure sustainability. It also identifies new value chain opportunities, including the tourism industry, the growing yachting sector, and domestic cassava value chains. Today, countries face major challenges as they strive to improve the competitiveness of their agricultural sector. However, there is great potential for strengthening market linkages and helping farmers, fishers, and agri-food businesses catch up with current technologies. Through the promotion of inclusive and sustainable agricultural development, the bank can contribute to overcoming major socio-economic and environmental challenges in the region, including food and nutrition insecurity and youth unemployment. The study concludes that the bank can play an instrumental role in supporting countries in meeting their Sustainable Development Goal targets - particularly with regard to socio-economic and environmental challenges - including poverty (SDG 1) food and nutrition insecurity (SDG 2), obesity (SDG 3), youth unemployment (SDG 8), resilient infrastructure (SDG 9), gender inequality (SDG 5), sustainable use of natural resources, and climate change (SDG 13).