Medium-term Plan
Over the last 5-10 years, many events have singularly and collectively contributed to a renewed sense of urgency and importance to the agricultural sector. Some of the more demanding factors include material disasters as occasioned by climate change, increased demand for food, especially by the rapidly developing Asian countries, increasing use of agricultural products for food and non-food items, such as, fuel and fibre.
Indeed, initiatives at the global, hemispheric and regional level unequivocally link performance of the agricultural sector to food security, poverty alleviation, economic and rural development.
In the Caribbean, the highest political Forum, the Conference of Heads of Government now recognises Agriculture as a major economic driver in its Development Agenda particularly with respect to ameliorating food prices/cost of living, poverty and hunger. However, this requires a “New” Agriculture that:
- Spans the entire value (food and non-food) chain
s - Develops direct and indirect linkages with the other productive sectors and, is market oriented
- Requires significant quantum of human capital that is technologically trained
- Is significantly influenced by appropriate technological processes and measures
As expressed in the Jagdeo Initiative (The Initiative), for the “New” Agriculture to be developed, a properly functional and integrated regional Technology and Innovation Systems (TIS) is needed.
It is in this context, the Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI), as the only regional agricultural institution identified in the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas (Chapter 12), has a key role to play in the implementation and co-ordination of the TIS.
The approach adopted by CARDI (utilised elsewhere by institutions including IICA, and more recently FAO) for the fulfilment of its vision and mission is based on three pillars; bottom up/client led, working together, transparency and accountability.
You can download the full Medium-term Plan here (800kb, PDF).
