SVG Primes for Caribbean Agricultural Productivity Improvement Activity
SVG Primes for Caribbean Agricultural Productivity Improvement ... Searchlight Newspaper
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St. Vincent and the Grenadines to Benefit from USAID CAPA Program
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Caribbean Agricultural Productivity Improvement Activity (CAPA) will soon bring significant benefits to St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG). The program aims to enhance food security by expanding fruit and vegetable production, strengthening relationships between buyers and input suppliers, and improving extension systems. This report highlights the key components of CAPA and its emphasis on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Objectives of CAPA
- Increase smallholder market-led production of fruits and vegetables.
- Improve domestic and regional market linkages for smallholder farmers.
- Strengthen public/private sector extension skills, capacity, and systems to transfer best practices to smallholder farmers.
The three-year, $5.3 million USAID program will adopt an integrated value chain approach. It will incorporate on-farm technologies, such as shade houses and climate smart practices, to enhance production. Additionally, practical storage solutions will be implemented to maintain shelf life.
In a meeting held on July 26, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries, Rural Transformation, Industry and Labour, Saboto Caesar, met with USAID and IESC officials to solidify the CAPA program’s launch in October. Minister Caesar emphasized the importance of collaboration in promoting the growth and sustainability of the agricultural sector. He also highlighted the need to explore opportunities for expanding export markets through an internationally standardized framework.
CAPA will be implemented in Guyana, Suriname, Dominica, Barbados, Grenada, St. Lucia, Trinidad and Tobago, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
Project Manager Specialist at USAID, Durwin Humphrey, emphasized that the projects will address the main priorities of each country. He also mentioned that groundwork is being laid out, including data collection.
CAPA is being implemented by Improving Economies for Stronger Communities (IESC) and the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA).
At the meeting, Rachel Posner, Manager of Agriculture-led Growth at IESC, and Mervyn Farroe, Regional Representative for Eastern and Southern Caribbean at USAID, were also present.
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?
- SDG 2: Zero Hunger – The article discusses the USAID Caribbean Agricultural Productivity improvement Activity (CAPA), which aims to boost food security through the expansion of fruit and vegetable production.
- SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth – The article mentions the importance of promoting the growth and sustainability of the agricultural sector, which is connected to the goal of achieving decent work and economic growth.
- SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production – The article mentions the use of on-farm technologies and climate smart practices to fortify production and practical storage solutions to maintain shelf life, which aligns with the goal of responsible consumption and production.
2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?
- SDG 2.1: By 2030, end hunger and ensure access by all people, in particular the poor and people in vulnerable situations, including infants, to safe, nutritious and sufficient food all year round – The CAPA program aims to increase smallholder market-led production of fruits and vegetables, which contributes to ensuring access to nutritious food.
- SDG 8.3: Promote development-oriented policies that support productive activities, decent job creation, entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation, and encourage the formalization and growth of micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises, including through access to financial services – The CAPA program aims to strengthen public/private sector extension skills, capacity, and systems to transfer best practices to smallholder farmers, which supports the growth of agricultural enterprises.
- SDG 12.3: By 2030, halve per capita global food waste at the retail and consumer levels and reduce food losses along production and supply chains, including post-harvest losses – The use of practical storage solutions to maintain shelf life in the CAPA program aligns with the target of reducing food losses along production and supply chains.
3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?
- The expansion of fruit and vegetable production can be measured by indicators such as the increase in the number of smallholder farmers engaged in market-led production and the increase in the volume of fruits and vegetables produced.
- The improvement of domestic and regional market linkages for smallholder farmers can be measured by indicators such as the increase in the number of buyers and input suppliers working with smallholder farmers and the increase in the value of agricultural products traded domestically and regionally.
- The strengthening of public/private sector extension skills, capacity, and systems can be measured by indicators such as the increase in the number of extension workers trained, the improvement in the adoption of best practices by smallholder farmers, and the increase in the availability of extension services.
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 2: Zero Hunger | 2.1: By 2030, end hunger and ensure access by all people, in particular the poor and people in vulnerable situations, including infants, to safe, nutritious and sufficient food all year round | – Increase in smallholder market-led production of fruits and vegetables – Increase in the number of smallholder farmers engaged in market-led production – Increase in the volume of fruits and vegetables produced |
| SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth | 8.3: Promote development-oriented policies that support productive activities, decent job creation, entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation, and encourage the formalization and growth of micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises, including through access to financial services | – Strengthening of public/private sector extension skills, capacity, and systems – Increase in the number of extension workers trained – Improvement in the adoption of best practices by smallholder farmers – Increase in the availability of extension services |
| SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production | 12.3: By 2030, halve per capita global food waste at the retail and consumer levels and reduce food losses along production and supply chains, including post-harvest losses | – Use of practical storage solutions to maintain shelf life – Reduction in food losses along production and supply chains |
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Source: searchlight.vc
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