Major Characteristics of Caribbean Food Systems: Trade/Imports; Subsistence; and Nutrition Dr. Sharon Hutchinson On Behalf of Dr. Ranjit Singh Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, UWI, St. Augustine Global Environmental Change and Food Systems (GECAFS) First Caribbean Scenarios Meeting Kingston, Jamaica Sept

Outline of Presentation Definition and conceptual map of food systems Definition and conceptual map of food systems Characteristics of Caribbean economis Characteristics of Caribbean economis Characteristics of Caribbean food systems Characteristics of Caribbean food systems Sources of vulnerability Sources of vulnerability Conclusion Conclusion

Food Systems – A Definition Food systems are a set of dynamic interactions between and within the biophysical and human environments that result in the production, processing, distribution, preparation and consumption of food. (GECAFS – Science Plan and Implementation Strategy) Food systems are a set of dynamic interactions between and within the biophysical and human environments that result in the production, processing, distribution, preparation and consumption of food. (GECAFS – Science Plan and Implementation Strategy) These systems encompass: These systems encompass: –Food availability –Food access –Food utilization

Food Availability Production Distribution Exchange Elements of the Food System Food Access Affordability Allocation Preference Food Utilization Nutritional value Social value Food safety

The Food Supply Chain Imports Production Marketing Intermediaries Market Consumers

Overview of Sources of Vulnerability Env. Damage/ Climate Change Global Supply Global Demand Price Middlemen Consumers Real Income Local Demand Local Supply Production Infrastructure Imports + +

Country Profile Table - CARICOM (Physical) CountryPopulation, Total (2002) Surface area (sq. km.) Antigua & Barbuda76, Barbados312, Dominica71, Grenada102, Guyana774,800214,970 Jamaica ,991 St. Kitts & Nevis46, St. Lucia159, St. Vincent109, Trinidad & Tobago1,282,4475,128

Country GDP and GDP per capita (2002)

Country GDP Growth Rates and Inflation Rates (2002)

Importance of Agriculture Variable by country re: contribution to GDP Variable by country re: contribution to GDP High for the region as a whole (GDP contribution) High for the region as a whole (GDP contribution) High employment – directly and indirectly High employment – directly and indirectly Dominant in terms of resource use Dominant in terms of resource use Main plantation crops: Main plantation crops: –Sugar cane –Banana –Rice –coconut

Agriculture Contribution: GDP (2003) and Employment ( )

CARICOM* Food Trade In The Caribbean (2001) - % of All Trade FoodTotal Imports$1,330,361,603$9,555,072,979 Exports$849,115,113$5,980,856,678 * Excludes Antigua and Guyana

Production Characteristics – Dominica Case Very small farms on fragmented holdings (74% of farmers hold < 5 acres) Very small farms on fragmented holdings (74% of farmers hold < 5 acres) 9,026 farm households (1995) 9,026 farm households (1995) Like other OECS countries, most of the land occupied by small farmers is in mountainous areas of hillside slopes Like other OECS countries, most of the land occupied by small farmers is in mountainous areas of hillside slopes Over reliance on a single crop Over reliance on a single crop

Production Characteristics – Dominica Case (2) Lack of fertile land Lack of fertile land High transportation costs due to mountainous terrain High transportation costs due to mountainous terrain Poor land tenure Poor land tenure Low technology systems Low technology systems

Recent Trends in Main Agricultural Commodities - Bananas  export  export  prices  prices  employment  employment  competition (especially new WTO rules)  competition (especially new WTO rules)

Recent Trends in Main Agricultural Commodities – Sugar Cane Significant  in income Significant  in income Further 39%  prices (January 2006) Further 39%  prices (January 2006) Already approx. 25%  in income in the last 4 yrs Already approx. 25%  in income in the last 4 yrs  competition from other sweeteners  competition from other sweeteners

Recent Trends in Main Agricultural Commodities – Coconut  competition from Soya bean and corn oil  competition from Soya bean and corn oil  fears of ill health  fears of ill health  incidence of disease in crop  incidence of disease in crop

Recent Trends in Main Agricultural Commodities – Rice Problems of global oversupply Problems of global oversupply  prices  prices

Non-Traditional Commodities? Production and exports not impressive Production and exports not impressive  exports of three important non-traditional exports (mangoes, plantains, root crops)  exports of three important non-traditional exports (mangoes, plantains, root crops)  production in the poultry sector (esp. Jamaica and Dominican Republic  production in the poultry sector (esp. Jamaica and Dominican Republic Exports of fishery products appear stable Exports of fishery products appear stable The Caribbean is not seizing opportunities in non-traditional, more processed food or import substitutes The Caribbean is not seizing opportunities in non-traditional, more processed food or import substitutes

A Look At The Components Of Food Supply Own production (backyard/ subsistence farming) Own production (backyard/ subsistence farming) Community production Community production National production National production Imports (regional and international) Imports (regional and international) Food aid Food aid

How Can We Categorize Food Systems? Urban Urban Rural Rural –Non-coastal –Coastal

Characteristics Of Urban Food Sub- system Very low/ nil own production Very low/ nil own production Very low/ nil community production Very low/ nil community production Largely national/ international food sources Largely national/ international food sources Driven by consumer income Driven by consumer income Very vulnerable Very vulnerable

Characteristics Of Rural (Non- coastal) Food Sub-system Income generating activities usually based on: Income generating activities usually based on: –Traditional export crops (e.g. sugarcane, bananas) –Non-traditional commodities Low community production of non-market crops Low community production of non-market crops Largely national/ international food sources Largely national/ international food sources Access to food based on wage Access to food based on wage Fairly vulnerable Fairly vulnerable

Characteristics Of Rural (Coastal) Food Sub-system Food system highly characterized by fish and other seafood resources which account for the major source of protein Food system highly characterized by fish and other seafood resources which account for the major source of protein Income generating activities usually based on: Income generating activities usually based on: –Seafood production –Coconut production Low community production of non-market crops Low community production of non-market crops Largely national/ international food sources Largely national/ international food sources Access to food based on wage Access to food based on wage Usually very low mean wages and poor political power Usually very low mean wages and poor political power Very vulnerable Very vulnerable

Geographical And Socio-economic Characteristics of SIDS Which Increases Vulnerability To Climate Change Narrow economic base Narrow economic base –Traditional exports and tourism Low productivity and production Low productivity and production –Plantation and small rain-fed agriculture Economic dependence on larger countries for markets and investments Economic dependence on larger countries for markets and investments –Imports; loss of trade preferences/ competitiveness; changes in trade policies; declining prices Increased pressure on natural resource base Increased pressure on natural resource base Increased incidence of pockets of poverty Increased incidence of pockets of poverty Fragile coastal systems Fragile coastal systems Growing non-healthy food choices Growing non-healthy food choices

Poverty Approx. 25% of the total population in the Caribbean (more than 7 mill people), can be classified as poor (World Bank Poverty Head Count Index) Approx. 25% of the total population in the Caribbean (more than 7 mill people), can be classified as poor (World Bank Poverty Head Count Index) % Population below National Poverty Line ( ) % Population below National Poverty Line ( ) –Suriname : 47% –Guyana : 43% –Haiti : 60%

Nutrition In the last yrs, the incidence of energy- protein mal-nutrition and infectious disease has declined In the last yrs, the incidence of energy- protein mal-nutrition and infectious disease has declined This has been replaced by non-communicable, nutrition-related chronic diseases as the major cause of death This has been replaced by non-communicable, nutrition-related chronic diseases as the major cause of death –Obesity –High blood pressure/ heart disease –Diabetes

Conclusion The food subsystems that rely heavily on imports will be extremely vulnerable The food subsystems that rely heavily on imports will be extremely vulnerable Changes in the food system must be assessed from both a global and localized perspective. Changes in the food system must be assessed from both a global and localized perspective. In the short run, the erosion of purchasing power may have the biggest potential to destabilize Caribbean food systems In the short run, the erosion of purchasing power may have the biggest potential to destabilize Caribbean food systems

Thank You! Major Characteristics of Caribbean Food Systems: Trade/Imports; Subsistence; and Nutrition Dr. Sharon Hutchinson On Behalf of Dr. Ranjit Singh Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, UWI, St. Augustine