BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – GLOBAL food security is a great concern now more than ever, and Senior Agricultural Officer Eric Browne has stated the nation must pay more attention to a number of factors to ensure everyone’s dinner plate remains full.
In an exclusive interview with SKNVibes, Browne outlined a number of factors affecting the nation’s food security, pinpointing the increase of input costs, decrease in available products and the steady rise of consumer demand. He added that other factors, including natural disasters and government policies, may be both beneficial and detrimental to food security.
“The increases in the cost of food production and fuel prices, along with the increasing global population, pose a serious threat to global food security. Closer to home, problems like climate change, natural disasters and land degradation can put us at a disadvantage,” Browne said.
Senior Officer Browne stated that government policies encouraging sustainable agricultural practices and upgraded agricultural technology must be used to prevent food shortages in the Federation.
“We must make amendments to the mechanism of land distribution. Land is used for housing, social development and agricultural purposes. This is where the role of the government becomes increasingly important to place the priority on the distribution of lands for agricultural purposes.
“We must also boost agricultural science and technology to increase the yields, which are currently insufficient to feed the growing population. If we have proper irrigation systems, mechanisation and greenhouses, agricultural yield may be more reliable and consistent year-round,” he added.
Other areas for improvement highlighted by Browne include strengthening the contribution of the private sector to agriculture and improving human resources through education.
He noted that it is critical for farmers to have access to financing and secured property rights. Browne stressed the need for more “business-minded” individuals to enter the agricultural sector in an administrative or managerial capacity, describing it as a “viable career option”.
“Apart from increased investment from the private sector, we are attempting to reintroduce gardening in the schools and in the homes. These must begin with education at the primary level, and then at the general level to remove the stigma associated with agriculture.”
On a more personal level, Browne said home gardening is one of the most viable options for food security because it increases food production, reduces household expenses and provides food for the domestic market.
