October 29, 2024
We don’t know exactly what it would take for the Caribbean Community to adopt a Common Agricultural Policy (CAP)? We can do so much by boosting food production in The Caribbean through a CAP. We can boost small and large farm production; we can provide subsidies to agricultural programs throughout the region.
Imagine Guyana producing bananas for the entire region and Caribbean countries allowing for special import support for Guyanese bananas? Imagine how much help that gives Guyanese farmers and how much better for the rest of the region if Guyana can produce bananas cheaper than what we would buy from other international producers? This does not have to be a dream.
If we want to talk about food security, then we have to become radical and do what other countries have done for success. For example, the European Union has a CAP and it works for the region. They share the burden in the EU and those with comparative and competitive advantages are allowed to produce what they can for the region for the benefit of the entire region. It works well, for the most part.
We can build our food security expectations based on international trade rules and be successful.