Agriculture Minister Ravi Ratiram says the sector must evolve beyond primary production to become a driver of nutrition, economic resilience, environmental stewardship and cultural identity.
He has also given his Ministry’s commitment to strengthening national and regional food systems through innovation, strategic partnerships and sustainable development.
“Food security is not simply an agricultural issue. It is an issue of economic stability, national resilience and strategic independence. A nation that cannot feed itself remains vulnerable, but a nation that strengthens its agricultural capacity strengthens its sovereignty,” Minister Ratiram stated.
Today, the Minister addressed the International Conference on Food and Nutrition Security and Sustainable Tourism at UWI St. Augustine.
The conference was themed, “From Soil to Society: Advancing Food and Nutrition Security, Cultural Gastronomy and Sustainable Tourism to Achieve the Sustainable Development Goals”.
Highlighting the Caribbean’s US $6 billion annual food import bill, Mr Ratiram noted the structural vulnerabilities facing Small Island Developing States, including exposure to global supply chain disruptions and price volatility.
He reiterated the Ministry’s policy focus on reducing import dependency while enhancing domestic production and value chain development.
He also pointed to the untapped economic potential of strengthening linkages between local farmers, fishers, agro-processors and the hospitality sector.
“When hotels source produce from local farmers, when restaurants highlight locally caught seafood and when our culinary traditions are authentically showcased, we create a virtuous economic cycle that benefits communities, supports livelihoods and retains value within our economy,” he noted.
Additionally, Mr Ratiram stressed the importance of integrating traditional agricultural knowledge with modern science and technology, while deepening collaboration among key stakeholders, including academia, development agencies and the private sector.
