The Current State and Future of Caribbean Agriculture

This paper evaluates the performance of export agriculture during 1980 to 2004 for the borrowing member countries of the Caribbean Development Bank, excluding the United Kingdom-dependent territories, and critically assesses the issue of food dependence and security. It sketches the broad outlines of a new agricultural policy for the Caribbean region, taking into consideration the new challenges (trade liberalization, increased use of sanitary and phyto-sanitary barriers, etc.), concerns (food safety, quality, security) and opportunities (rising food prices as a result of increased demand related to global population and income growth, possible diversification into high-value products, expansion of niche markets, such as for organic and fair trade products, etc.) presented by the current international environment.