Annual Agriculture Review 2008 - Government of Grenada

Foreword
Hon. Michael Denis Lett
The Minister for Agriculture
Our Government has a very clear and
unambiguous vision for the agriculture sector
in Grenada. The vision is for an agriculture
sector that is globally competitive, ensuring
food security and sustainable livelihoods for
the entire nation and the maintenance of a
quality natural environment.
As Minister with responsibility for
Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries,
it gives me immense pleasure and an
exceedingly profound sense of gratification
to be associated with the first publication
of this Annual Agriculture Review which,
essentially, highlights the performance of
the industry in 2008.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and
Fisheries attaches enormous importance
to the annual review of the sector which
is intended to provide a summary of the
achievements of this pivotal industry in
2008. This review will provide details on
progress made thus far in the revitalization
efforts following the devastation of the
sector by Hurricanes Ivan and Emily
in 2004 and 2005 respectively. It will
also address problems confronting the
sector’s development, its impact on rural
communities and on the island’s food
security and its contribution to GDP.
As Minister of Agriculture and someone
who has been intimately associated with
the sector over many years, I am painfully
aware of the problems that exist for many
stakeholders who are interested in assessing
up to date information on the sector and are
not able to do so because of the absence of
a comprehensive document where reliable
and credible information can be obtained.
The publication of the agriculture review,
no doubt, will address this anomaly.
I have always held the view that a prosperous
and dynamic agriculture industry is
critically needed to ensure a buoyant and
healthy economy in Grenada. In other
words, the fortune of the island’s economy
is intrinsically intertwined with that of the
agriculture industry. It is not by accident
therefore that Government has placed such
a high priority on the development of the
sector.
The Ministry of Agriculture has prioritized
food security as a major thrust as it endeavors
to revitalize the agriculture sector. What
has transpired over the last year or so, in
relation to the escalation of food prices and
the scarcity that resulted as a consequence
of the restrictions that have been placed on
food exports by some countries, have made
us more conscious of the need to place
greater emphasis on enhancing the island’s
capability to produce, in a more sustainable
manner, food production.
A food security programme is presently
being implemented which has been
supported, in an admirable way, by the
Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO),
who has provided financial, material and
technical support and by the Government
of Grenada.
Another area that will be given high priority
is food quality and safety. Not only must
food be made affordable and available to
the population but the quality and safety
of foods must meet the basic standards.
Assistance in that area will be solicited
from the FAO. Farmers will be encouraged
to implement Good Agricultural Practices
(GAP) and a farmers’ certification
programme will be implemented by the
Ministry of Agriculture.
While a lot of effort is placed currently
in boosting agriculture production,
Government will pursue vigorously efforts
to protect the environment and to preserve
the island’s natural resources. As a small
island developing state, with very fragile
ecosystems, we cannot afford to make the
colossal blunder that others have made in
the past where environmental degradation
has been carried out in the name of progress.
Several Departments in the Ministry such
4