St. Kitts Agricultural Development Strategy (ADS) (2013 – 2016).

The present Agricultural Development Strategy (ADS) provides a framework and guide for actions to improve the production and marketing of crop and animal food and non-food products in St. Kitts over the 2013 to 2016 period. Its implementation will be led by the Department of Agriculture (DoA), working in collaboration with partners and stakeholders. The ADS 2013- 2016 responds to some major changes in a post-2006 global environment, critically climate change and resource scarcity; recognizes the prominence and global consensus on sustainable development and hence is grounded in a sustainable agriculture agenda; acknowledges that despite the projected intensification of challenges, towards 2015, agriculture will be an indispensable part of the solution.The Plan consists of 4 Parts as follows: The Situation (I); The Vision, Development Goals, Priority Areas (II); The Planning for Implementation Framework (III); The Institutional Development Plan (IV).
SO1 - Goal 1 is defined to provide safe, affordable and stable food for food and nutrition security. It is well understood that Food and Nutrition Security (FNS) is a multi-dimensional and multi-sectoral responsibility. However agriculture plays an important and direct role in FNS through food production. The General Objective of Goal 1 is to expand the range, volume and availability of key local foods for food and nutrition security. The Desired Outcome shall be a reduced exposure to global food market volatility. The Priority Area concentrates on: 1) Maintain and support production of carefully selected priority food commodities for local consumption; 2) Promote and facilitate marketing, purchasing and utilization of locally produced foods. To achieve this goal, Core Program 1on Operation Food Security (OFS) shall be implemented. Its objective is to improve the level of self-reliance as a means of enhancing resilience to food shortages and sharp increases in food prices. The scope of the OFS program is focused on identifying and providing development support for a selected basket of commodities based largely on their capacity to secure the nutritional needs of the citizens of St. Kitts and Nevis. The targets are households and communities, with a particular focus on facilitating small food production units - households, schools, small-scale farmers and specific aspects of urban agriculture. The Strategy foresees to continue and build on the OFS program in order to strengthen and build capacity among households and communities for greater self-reliance in the production of a portion of their food needs through home and school gardening units and use of public green spaces. Priority will be placed on crop and animal products that: are already included in government food procurement programs; offer a relatively affordable and balanced daily meal; can be cultivated efficiently in mixed and small farming units, including school gardens, with minimal imported costs derived from dependence on seeds, fertilisers and agrichemicals; offer opportunities for the development of small-scale food preservation and minimal processing. Due to the multi-sectoral and multi-dimensional nature of food security, the core strategies which will underpin activities in this program must include: a) public education and awareness, b) strategic partnerships, and c) project preparation and resource mobilization. Dissemination of success stories and good practices will be an important aspect of public awareness, so too will stronger and more formal partnerships with relevant Ministries, such as, Education and other key stakeholders
SO2: The third agricultural goal is to create sustainable and resilient farming systems. Its main objective is to support the shift towards sustainable and adaptive farming systems that preserve agricultural natural resources and bio-diversity and hopefully this shall lead to an effective land, water and biodiversity management. The desired outcome is effective land, water and biodiversity management. Priority areas focus on: Mainstream and integrate sustainable land, water and waste management into sectoral planning and farming practices.; To achieve this aim Implementation Program 2 on Farming and Agricultural Systems Transformation (FAST) shall be enforced The Objective is: to introduce improved production technologies, tools, inputs and production systems. The Scope is a ‘public goods’ intervention focuses on entrenching scientific and sustainable principles and good practices into all farming systems . The integrated nature of agriculture and food production and marketing is well recognised as the preferred development strategy. However supply side constraints demand explicit and focuses attention on actions to develop productive and efficient farming systems. FAST seeks to address the deep-seated, supply-side constraints to agricultural productivity and competitiveness.
SO4: Goal 2 sets out to Generate innovative and profitable agri-businesses for growth and development; Its general objective is to enable the growth and Development of modern, market-oriented and integrated agribusiness. Desired outcome is exxpanded economic opportunities, linkages and investment in business along the agriculture production-trade; Engage and empowered youth agripreneurs and innovators Priority areas endeavor to promote and facilitate systems agriculture to build critical mass and enhance efforts at clustering and chain integration; Strengthen mechanisms for application of science and technology for innovative product development; Improve capacity for compliance with trade and environmental requirements. This aim will be reached by Implementation Program 2 on Farming and Agricultural Systems Transformation (FAST). The Objective is to raise the level of farm productivity, profitability and competitiveness of farm outputs. The Scope: a ‘public goods’ intervention focused on entrenching scientific and sustainable principles and good practices into all farming systems. The Strategy: a focus almost exclusively on building efficiency, productivity and resilience
SO5: Goal 3 attempts to create sustainable and resilient farming systems capable of adapting to hazards and changing climate. The general objective is to support the shift towards sustainable and adaptive farming systems that preserve agricultural natural resources and bio-diversity. Desired outcome is climate-smart and risk-managed farming systems. Priority areas are: Improve response mechanisms and capacity for agricultural risk and disaster management; Develop measures to adapt and build resilience to climate change Program. To reach this goal, Core Program 3 on Agricultural Risk Management and Climate Change Adaptation (ARMCCA) shall be activated. Most farmers in St. Kitts operate under open field conditions. This alone renders them vulnerable to risks, with projected adverse climate change impacts ranking high among these. However, an immediate and major risk factor is a large population of monkeys and roaming animals, which destroy crops especially fruits, vegetables and root crops. Monkeys, in particular, are difficult to control. They attack year round, with slight relief during the local fruiting season only (August to October). Roaming animals are also a nuisance to public health and safety and a problem for farmers. The Objective is to identify and implement measures that reduce risks to farmers and facilitate adoption of effective on-farm practices to reduce and/or manage risks associated with animals and climate change. The Scope: Animal nuisance (monkeys and roaming animals i.e., cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, dogs), and farm water management. The Target: farmers, ports of entry, processing facilities, including slaughter houses. The Strategy is to identify and implement problem-specific solutions for direct impact. Responses to agricultural risk, particularly those of natural origin (including monkeys and stray/roaming animals), and more recently impacts of climate change are increasingly being addressed from regional and global perspectives and responses. Strategically, St. Kitts and Nevis can position this aspect of its ADS into the global dialogue and leverage its position as a SIDS to mobilize development resources geared towards poverty. Such interventions will have positive and complementary externalities to the efforts undertaken under Programs 2 and 3. This program area will be an important element of the enabling environment of the ‘new agriculture’ in a post-2011 environment.