San Jose, 29 May 2025 (IICA) – Ministers of Agriculture of the Eastern Caribbean noted that contributing to retaining youth in rural areas through public policies that foster improved living conditions will be key to guaranteeing food security in the region, which is one of the most vulnerable in the world.
The ministers are part of a study mission by more than twenty rural youth and women from the region to the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) in San Jose, organized in collaboration with the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS). The OECS has twelve member countries, including six members of IICA: Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada, Dominica, Antigua and Barbuda and Saint Kitts and Nevis.
During the four-day mission that will include training, the participants will also visit the Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center (CATIE), the prestigious educational and scientific research institution, based in Turrialba, Costa Rica.
Participants include the Director General of the OECS, Didacus Jules; Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Blue and Green Economy of Dominica, Roland Royer; Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Marine Resources of Saint Kitts and Nevis, Samal Duggins; Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Rural Development of Saint Lucia, Alfred Prospere; Minister of Economic Development, Planning, Agriculture and Lands, Forestry, Marine Resources and Cooperatives of Grenada, Lennox Andrews; and the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries, Rural Transformation, Industry and Labour of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Saboto Caesar.
They were all welcomed by the Director General of IICA, Manuel Otero.
The Argentinian veterinarian noted that, “This study visit is historic and will provide a unique opportunity for IICA staff to interact with the ministers of Agriculture, young people and women, with a view to strengthening our cooperation to accelerate the implementation of the OECS FAST Strategy, which is a top priority for the Council of Ministers of Agriculture of the region”.
“The region, and in particular the OECS, has suffered more than its fair share of natural disasters in recent years, and at IICA we have set ourselves the specific task to respond quickly and decisively to commit human and financial resources to rehabilitate the affected countries, as well as to provide technical support to continually build the resilience of the region’s agrifood systems”, he added.
In recent years, the six IICA member countries in the region have benefitted from IICA’s assistance in response to disastrous events during the Otero administration, ranging from storms and hurricanes in Dominica, Grenada, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and Grenadines, Antigua and Barbuda and Saint Kitts and Nevis, to the devastation wrought by other natural phenomena, such as the Soufrière volcanic eruption in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
Agriculture and development
Grenada’s Minister, Lennox Andrews, explained that the small island nations of the Eastern Caribbean countries gained their independence from the United Kingdom of Great Britain during the 1970s and 1980s.
“One of the reasons for seeking our independence—he stated—was our objection to the financial agreement that the metropolis had with our islands. We were essentially suppliers of raw materials, but without much economic activity. Since that time, the islands have been undergoing a transformation, establishing a solid economic base and creating a sense of pride and national patriotism among our people”.
Andrews stated that the Eastern Caribbean countries consider agriculture to be one of the sectors that when properly managed will contribute to poverty eradication and reduced dependence on other nations.
As such, he described IICA as a key ally in developing the capacities of farmers and identifying correct strategies to build much stronger economies, through agriculture.
Alfred Prospere, the Saint Lucian Minister, spoke of the challenges facing Caribbean agriculture. He mentioned not only climate vulnerability but also an aging agricultural labor population. “Many of our farmers are between 60 and 70 years of age and are preparing to leave the sector, but I am not convinced that our young people are ready to step into their shoes. Thus, we must fill an important gap in the coming years or decades”.
Prospere stressed that technology will be key to involving the youth. “The traditional way of cultivation will not attract them. What will appeal to them are new approaches to agriculture, for example, using drones and information technology-based monitoring”
Food security
“We are here to intensify the cooperation that we are providing and to take it to the next level. We came to offer training sessions to expose young people and women in agriculture to new technologies and methodologies, because food security and sovereignty are priority issues for us”, said Didacus Jule, Director General of the OECS.
Jules stressed how important IICA’s collaboration has been to the Caribbean and acknowledged that the region must redouble efforts to end its dependence on food imports.
“One of the things that we must recognize is that we are at a very difficult time in history, a very volatile moment. It is a time of multiple crises. As such, we must act quickly to do what we know is needed. As they say: ‘Never let a good crisis go to waste’”, he concluded.
Saboto Caesar, the Minister from Saint Vincent and the Grenadines thanked IICA and the OECS for organizing the meeting, stating that, “The energy, love and enthusiasm of the young people is infectious. It makes me feel that agriculture has regained its appeal. Rural youth today are leading the transition from monoculture farming—in which expansive tracts of land were devoted solely to bananas or sugar cane—to diversified agriculture. The young people who are coming up want to study agriculture at the highest level”.
Minister Caesar stressed improvements in transitioning from traditional production methods to those that are being developed by young people and that are capable of tackling plant and animal diseases more efficiently. He also highlighted IICA’s work in providing assistance to recover from more extreme and increasingly frequent climate events.
Samal Duggins, Minister from Saint Kitts and Nevis, noted that women and youth are fundamental in safeguarding the future of an agriculture sector that will guarantee food security in the region and the world.
He remarked that, “A meeting like this is important for us, as it is an opportunity to establish a framework to enable rural women and youth in agriculture to develop and prosper. And with the marvelous support from IICA, we believe that that this framework is yielding real and tangible benefits for our country”.
The Dominican Minister, Roland Royer, said that the Caribbean countries are working continuously with IICA on issues such as smart agriculture and climate change adaptation.
“In Dominica, we are seeing a strong emphasis on the development of youth in agriculture, and of course of women in rural communities. I myself was introduced to IICA as a young farmer, through a rural leaders’ program in San Jose. We spent some time here and the training was invaluable”.
More information:
Institutional Communication Division.
comunicacion.institucional@iica.int
