Policy Framework and Strategic Plan for Agricultural Development 2012-2018

The Policy Framework and Strategic Plan for Agricultural Development is a national sectoral strategic document of St. Vincent and the Grenadines for the period of 2012-2018. Its main objective is to promote the development of agri-businesses that are financially, socially and environmentally sustainable.
The document aims to ensure food security. To this end, it sets out measures concerning reactivating the National Food and Nutrition Security Committee; preparing a National Food Security Policy and Action Plan and gain approval of stakeholders and Cabinet; promote school gardening and incorporation of local nutritious foods into school feeding/government institutions; promoting home gardening and small farm production (fruit trees, livestock, fresh water fish farming etc) to increase nutrition and reduce expenditures of low-income households; developing a Plan for data collection and management of national food reserves (largely comprised of the stocks held in private warehouses and homes during the hurricane season); promoting new recipes and nutritional content of local foods (using innovative means such as schools competitions etc); educating and sensitizing women (as producers and preparers of food) on health and nutrition and food security and training and demonstration for women in alternative livelihood activities.
The document also seeks to make natural resources more productive and sustainable. More specifically, it aims to develop a forest and natural resource inventory; carry out a valuation of the natural resources; develop specific and site specific management plans; review and upgrade environmental legislation; enhance/ strengthen forestry education and public awareness programs; continue annual reforestation program in critical areas; develop sustainable land use practices; work with individuals and communities in developing sustainable livelihoods opportunities; maintain endemic plant and animal species; establish and maintain marine protected areas; protect endangered/exploited marine species; manage the fisheries coastal zones; and ensure protection against invasive species.
Further the document aims to reduce rural poverty. In particular, it provides for increasing number of the youth involved in agriculture by developing a national policy supporting youth in agriculture, ensuring accreditation of educational programs, credit products tailored to the circumstances of the youth, easy access and programmes tailored to the youth into the Agricultural Training Institute, and establishing a youth agricultural apprenticeship/mentorship programme; promotion of traditional knowledge by documentation of traditional indigenous cultures and customs to maintain community pride and form the basis for commercial enterprises, and encouraging and developing value-added local products among women; development of rural enterprise by encouraging agri-business in school through developing of after-school farms utilizing existing farm operation and facilitating enterprise formation in targeted rural areas, and working with these enterprises for success and transfer of business and technical skills.
In order to enable more inclusive and efficient agricultural and food systems, the following measures are set out: ensuring the availability and accessibility of quality agricultural land for productive use by the present and future generations; motivating improved rates of productive utilization of agricultural land; introduction of a specialist agricultural labour force and agricultural labour/machinery contracting companies, establishment of an applied research programme for agricultural machinery intended to resolve machinery (e.g., planting, harvesting, weed control) and labour problems (e.g., need for specialised tools) faced by farmers; collaborative action among area farmers as a means of facilitating the use of labour-saving machinery in planting, field operations, and harvesting; improving the environment for increased lending to the agricultural sector by financial institutions; reducing risk in the agricultural sector by addressing the principal and underlying causes of risk; increasing private sector investment in agriculture; and encouraging the adoption of innovation intended to address specific core agricultural developmental issues, such as increasing labour productivity.
Increasing the resilience of livelihoods to disasters is among the objectives of this policy/strategy. To this end, the document aims to prepare disaster management plan for the industry, through networking with farmer organizations; effective pest surveillance systems to strengthen local production efforts (emergency action plan); designating a Food Security focal point in the Ministry; developing/implementing mechanisms to reduce impact of natural disasters on industry; reducing production risk by Continued provision of assistance during/after times of natural disaster; establishing and maintaining marine protected areas by developing action plans to manage impacts of disasters; conducting vulnerability assessments; establishing mitigation mechanisms to reduce the impact of climate change; implementing integrated pest management systems to prevent disease; ensuring effective pest surveillance systems to strengthen local production efforts (emergency action plan).
The Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Transformation, Forestry and Fisheries is the key actor in the agricultural sector. The Ministry is headed by a Minister, who is responsible for policy and reports to Cabinet. The Permanent Secretary (PS) is responsible for the day-today functioning of the Ministry. The PS is assisted by three Chief Officers (Fisheries, Forestry, and Agriculture).