Impacts of Vulnerabilities and Climate Change on Sustainable Agriculture for Caribbean Small Island Developing States (CSIDS)

Abstract

Climate change is a critical environmental issue that poses significant threats to mankind including its effects on sustainable development and food and nutrition security. Agriculture is recognised as the single most effective means to poverty reduction and sustainable livelihoods. Despite the CSIDS region’s slow economic development from agriculture, it continues to be a major impetus for sustainable development. It is imperative that a diversity of strategies and adaptation measures be taken in addressing the challenges associated with climate change and in particular its specific impacts on the agriculture sector in CSIDS. This chapter highlights and discusses the major vulnerabilities and constraints in achieving sustainable agriculture most commonly faced by CSIDS and present the opportunities and options that can allow for sustainable farming systems and sustainable agriculture. Some strategies and solutions discussed include improving seeds and plant genetic material, irrigation, plant protection, new crops, post-harvest handling and agro-processing, animal production and health, marketing and credit, institutional and human resource development, as well as technical co-operation and information systems. In order for these strategies to be successful, further research and partnerships between CSIDS and the developed world should be encouraged, in order to help attain sustainable agricultural development and improve food security of this particular group of countries.

Conclusion

This chapter highlights the major agricultural issues and constraints faced by CSIDS and suggest strategies to address them. There is no simple solution to sustainable agriculture in CSIDS, a broad range of options, including those that are highlighted in this chapter, should be pursued simultaneously. A lot of hope is placed on scientific and technological innovation. Any optimism must be tempered by the enormous challenges of making food production sustainable while addressing the wide-ranging effects of climate change , including managing our biodiversity , conserving dwindling water supplies, as well as meeting the Millennium Development Goal of ending hunger. The temptation to further sacrifice CSIDS biodiversity for short term gains in food production must be avoided, not only because biodiversity provides many of the public goods on which mankind relies but also because we do not have the right to deprive future generations of its economic and cultural benefits. Together, these challenges amount to a perfect storm. Reducing the effects of this storm will require further research in the social and natural sciences and partnerships between CSIDS and the developed world should be encouraged. In CSIDS, a multi-sectorial policy is needed to deal with the issues of climate change and sustainable agriculture which can be affected through regional and local strategic development plans. However in order to achieve this, strong decision making in terms of direction and sustained action is required from our leaders in the Caribbean . Institutional mechanisms at the national and regional levels must be put in place, to undertake the regular dissemination of user-friendly information on such technologies as well as to assist with the training of nationals in use of such technology, and introduction of incentives to encourage the use of appropriate technology. The goal of CSIDS in achieving sustainable agriculture should not be to just maximize productivity, but to optimize across a far more complex landscape of production, environmental, and social justice outcomes. Developing a sustainable agricultural sector for the Caribbean region requires collaboration among all stakeholders—economists, agrologists, teachers, researchers, farmers, extension officers, consumers and public and private sector representatives.