SVG on the brink of food insecurity – Agriculture Minister

As the impact from Hurricane Beryl continues to be assessed, preliminary damage assessments paint a grim picture for the agriculture sector in St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG).

Fisheries and agriculture have taken a hard hit with Minister Saboto Caesar describing the situation by saying that the country is now “on the brink of food insecurity”.

He provided an update while making his contribution to the debate on the $136 million Supplementary Appropriation Bill in the House of Assembly on July 18.
Minister Caesar explained that while the full damage assessment is yet to be completed, preliminary estimates show that the lobster and conch fishery were “basically destroyed”, while seamoss production was “totally gone”. Hurricane Beryl also resulted in the loss of between 90 to 95 percent of banana and plantain trees.

“For the fisheries in the Grenadines, we lost over 90 percent. Boats are on the rubble, on playing fields, very little is taking place. I want for us to take careful note that we are on the brink of food insecurity.”

Caesar lamented the repeated blows SVG has suffered due to climate events over the last decade, and he noted that the situation has worsened in recent years.
The ashfall from the eruption of La Soufriere in 2021, followed by Hurricane Elsa, Tropical Storm Bert in 2023, in addition to the worsening droughts have placed SVG in a state of constant “natural disaster recovery” minister Caesar said.

“It is almost at every turn at recovery, there is a natural disaster. While technicians were out in the field doing assessments for damage [due to] the drought, we had a hurricane.”

The minister explained that EC$12 million has been set aside for income support for farmers and fishers, while the ministry awaits the completion of the full damage assessment report. He said additional officers will be assigned to Bequia and the Southern Grenadines to do the assessments.

One of the priority items for the Fisheries Division is the repair of fishing boats which Caesar said most likely will have to be done on the mainland.
“…two days ago when I heard the impact on the price of fish, it means we have to get up and going quickly”, he said.

“In a discussion at the Ministry it was noted that because of the situation in the Grenadines, it is not conducive to fixing boats, so we may have to speak to the boat owners and probably have a section at Ottley Hall for the repairing of the boats and also the engines.”

The Ministry of Agriculture will also provide seeds and seedlings for planting, and will be working with livestock farmers to provide insemination services.