Impact of the CSME on Small Farmers and the Agricultural Sector
14 June 2005

Farmers of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) recently held a meeting to discuss the Caribbean Single Market and Economy (CSME) and its impact on small farmers and the agricultural sector. This is as a result of a regional event co-ordinated by CARDI, through its Regional Branch Office of the Caribbean for the Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Co-operation (CTA).

The CARICOM/CSME Office in Barbados made a presentation to the group with respect to the CSME being placed in the context of the rules of the global trading system governed by the World Trade Organization, the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA), the Cotonou Agreement, bilateral agreements, other trading Agreements as well as the 1973 Treaty of Chaguaramas.

The Caribbean Farmers and NGO Network CaFANN is the brainchild of a group of farmers and NGOs participating in a regional workshop organized by CTA and CARDI in 2002. 

The Mission of CaFAN is to enhance the well being and competitiveness of Caribbean farmers through the sustainable development of the agricultural and rural development sector and thus contribute to the re-positioning of Caribbean economies.

Its objectives also include the enhancement of the marketing management capability of Caribbean farmers' organizations, improving capacity to deliver services to members, facilitating intra and extra regional trade, and networking among others.  CaFAN also seeks to increase communication and exchange of ideas, experiences, resources, information and technology between and among farmers associations in the Caribbean with a view to impacting positively on the competitiveness and sustainability of the agriculture sector.

Under the auspices of the Caribbean Agricultural Information Service (CAIS) and the CTA Regional Branch Office for the Caribbean and CARDI the group has continued to work closely with the Agricultural Society of Trinidad & Tobago, the Eastern Caribbean Trading and Development Company and more recently the Jamaica Agricultural Society and Barbados Agricultural Society, to foster greater collaboration.

CARDI’s working relationship with the group continued in 2003 with the development of project concepts and proposals as well as the completion of a regional survey of farmers groups and the hosting of a regional meeting of Caribbean farmers in 2004. In recognition of the importance of expanding and developing a program for the network a planning meeting of the group’s interim committee was also held in December 2004 in which activities were identified to be undertaken in 2005. To this end, the CSME regional event was held on 2-3 June 2005 in Barbados.

In related news, CaFANN members decided that the name should be changed to the Caribbean Farmers Network CaFAN, instead of the Caribbean Farmers and NGO network. This was in view of the importance of stressing the emphasis on farmers and producers, in particular small farmers. NGOs associated with agriculture will still be eligible for membership.

For more information please contact Selwyn E. King, Public Relations and Communications Manager, CARDI. (35/2005)