Canada, FAO unveil gender-responsive, climate-smart agriculture program for Caribbean

The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) Sub-regional Office for the Caribbean and the Government of Canada on Wednesday signed a grant agreement for: “Gender-responsive Climate-smart Agriculture and Food Systems in the Caribbean.”

This project, to be implemented by the FAO in collaboration with agricultural ministries in eight Caribbean countries, including Guyana, aims to promote climate-smart technologies in agricultural value chains. It focuses on youth and gender issues by enhancing their capacity to improve market access and income.

The government of Canada is funding the project with CAD 10 million.

The project will prioritise the needs of youth, women, and producer organizations, provide equal access to training activities, and develop knowledge products to enhance learning. Climate-smart tools and technologies will be introduced to enhance production and agro-processing efficiencies.

Market linkages will be strengthened through community fairs and forums, connecting farmers and processors to buyers, both nationally and regionally.

Speaking at the launch was FAO Representative in Guyana, Dr. Gillian Smith who noted that the FAO has been working with the Government of Guyana, citizens, and agencies “all towards increasing the efficient use of the resources of the country” and to ensure that farmers, fishers, and producers are “maximising their potential.”

Dr. Smith further emphasised the necessity of working through partnerships to follow the lead of the country’s development agenda, “save time and energy,” and “leave no gaps.”

Deputy Director and Head of Cooperation at the High Commission of Canada in Guyana, Adam Loyer acknowledged “the significant damage observed to agriculture, food security, and livelihoods of many farmers across the region” in the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl.

Loyer commended President Irfaan Ali’s “swift efforts to bring together relevant CARICOM stakeholders following the damage caused by Hurricane Beryl to chart the way forward for the agriculture sector in the region and to address setbacks to the 25 by 2025 initiative.”

He further highlighted the Canadian Government’s support for “CARICOM’s ambitions to increase resilience of their food systems to disasters and to other shocks by augmenting domestic food production through climate smart agricultural practices and reduce dependency on food imports.”

Director of Planning at Guyana’s Ministry of Agriculture, Natasha Deonarine said the Ministry “identified fisheries and aquaculture industry to be the main focus of this project.”

She also mentioned, “In 2024, $1.2B has been allocated to enhance fisheries and aquaculture productivity.”

Deonarine further noted that Guyana is working to improve the condition of women and close the existing gender-gap reflected by the Global Gender Gap Index. In 2024, Guyana scored 35th with 76.5% as reported by the World Economic Forum, the highest gender gap score for Guyana.