Growing more food is a good plan

THROUGHOUT the Caribbean, there is an evident interest in increasing food production to cut the Region’s expensive food-import bill and ensure that when disruptions such as the COVID-19 pandemic emerge, the Region is not left with food shortages. And I believe that growing more food remains a solid plan.

Of course, ‘grow more food’ has been a slogan championed since I was in primary school (which, admittedly, is not that long ago). However, it appears as though there is a renewed interest in increasing food production in Guyana and the Caribbean. Based on reports citing various regional leaders, including Guyana’s President Dr Irfaan Ali, the supply-chain challenges resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic may have contributed to this renewed interest in growing more food in the Region.

For a bit of context, transporting food became difficult with the travel restrictions and challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. With the Caribbean dependent on food imports-evidenced by the more than US $4 billion annual bill-that meant that getting food supplies into the Region was constrained.

Exacerbating the situation was that with the supply of food, like other products, declining, prices would increase (or inflate). And it is for these reasons we grappled with exorbitant food prices.

Cognisant of the foregoing, arguing that growing more food in the Region (where trade can potentially be much more efficient and potentially less costly) is necessary could, perhaps, be a moot point.

Yet, as part of my column this week, I wanted to join the ongoing conversation on boosting regional production and outline the value of growing more food, but also growing more of the foods that have not been traditionally produced in our Region.

Let me start anecdotally.

As a working student who lives alone, frozen, pre-cut vegetables are almost always part of my grocery list. And because I like nice things, I will spend an extra dollar purchasing “fancy foods” such as imported broccoli, carrots and cauliflower.

That extra dollar, for illustrative purposes, means purchasing 306 grams of packaged, imported vegetables for about $1,200. That single package caters for two, possibly three servings of cooked vegetables- which, certainly, is much less than if I had bought vegetables at a local market with that same amount of money. For convenience and, again, because I like seemingly fancy things, I purchase this vegetable package.

Now for some empirical data.

Beyond just me liking nice things, reports indicate that from 2018 to 2020, Guyana spent about $6 billion importing broccoli, carrots and cauliflower. If we examine imports annually, in 2018, $1.5 billion was spent on importing these three vegetables; in 2019, $1.9 billion was spent.

In 2020, while countries grappled with the COVID-19 pandemic and transportation challenges, $2.6 billion was spent locally to import these vegetables.

For emphasis, let us appreciate that these costs are just for three vegetables: broccoli, carrots and cauliflower.

A simple scan of any supermarket would reveal the litany of other foods and food products that Guyana imports. In December 2021, it was reported that President Ali said that the country imports about 40 per cent of its food.

Cognisant of this, I believe that it is evident and undeniable that growing more food is crucial. But as I alluded to earlier, it’s not only about growing more food, it is about growing more non-traditional foods such as broccoli, cauliflower and carrots.

Guyana, for example, is known for its rice and sugar production. Producing coconuts and some fish have also been notable, traditional agricultural sub-sectors. We have to think beyond these sectors, though.

Already, it is evident that a multibillion-dollar market for those three vegetables already exists. And with plans already afoot to satisfy local demand for these vegetables, it becomes imperative for us all to think about what other food demands we can satisfy.

Can we grow and possibly export strawberries, grapes or apples? And what scientific interventions would we need to ensure that our soil and climate conditions are tailored to foster the production of these non-traditional products? Thinking about agro-processing and manufacturing, of course, become important as well.

If we are serious about diversification efforts and expanding our non-oil sectors such as agriculture, then I believe immersing ourselves in the production of more non-traditional food becomes crucial. And to be perfectly clichéd- the appetite is already there.

If you would like to connect with me to discuss this column or any of my previous works, feel free to email me at vish14ragobeer@gmail.com

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