The government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines says the country faces the risk of becoming food insecure due to the impact of climate change.
Minister of Agriculture Saboto Caesar says over the last four years the agricultural sector has been affected by several events including tropical storms, volcanic eruptions, the COVID-19 pandemic and the latest being Hurricane Beryl.
Caesar said the destruction caused by Hurricane Beryl on the coastal and southern areas of St. Vincent and the Grenadines has impacted farm and fish enterprises resulting in significant losses.
He said the pressure on agricultural imports will be magnified with consequences for food availability and increased food prices.
Food crises are bad for everyone, but even more so for the poorest. The first thing families with low income do during the food crisis is switch to cheaper food that fills the stomach but is usually less nutritious.
And when nutritional needs are not met, people have lower productivity and inadequate nutrition has irreversible effects on a child’s physical and mental development. Thus, the crisis we are witnessing today may affect not only the individual but also the longer-term growth prospects of countries within the region.
Food prices around the world, including in the Caribbean, skyrocketed after the conflict in Ukraine broke out.
Both Ukraine and Russia produce a significant amount of the world’s grains, oilseeds and fertilizers. The shortfall in supplies has already caused price hikes for these food commodities. The Caribbean relies heavily on food imports for domestic consumption and to supply the tourism industry. As these price increases transmit to local markets, those previously bar Dominican Republic, Guyana, Haiti, and Suriname – have experienced food price increases higher than 5 percent every month. At least four Caribbean countries – Dominican Republic, Guyana, Haiti, and Suriname – have experienced food price increases higher than 5 percent every month
