In the aftermath of Hurricane Irma, the Bahamas focused their annual World Food Day Drive on victims located in the Southern Islands. During the country’s national ceremony, numerous boxes and cases of non-perishable items were donated towards the cause. In addition to these donations, over 500 people including schools, ministries and agricultural stakeholders joined in the official national ceremony and exhibition. A keynote speech by Minister of Agriculture and Marine Resources, Honourable Renward Wells, renditions of dance and song and a rake and scrape band were among some of the major highlights of the event. Cases of bananas and seedlings were also donated by The Bahamas Agricultural and Marine Science Institute (BAMSI) to various schools for use in their agricultural programmes.

In Jamaica, the emphasis was placed on promoting rural development and reducing incidents of migration due to praedial larceny and unemployment during a national ceremony, exhibition and tree planting exercise. Students from the host school, Knockalva Agricultural School delivered dramatic pieces and an original song on the need for a positive change in the agriculture industry to further discourage migration from rural communities and for increased efforts in curbing praedial larceny. FAO mounted a display on its work in Jamaica, engaged patrons in discussions on food security and on the work of FAO and its relevance to the Sustainable Development Goals. The Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Honourable Karl Samuda, delivered the keynote speech and presented farm tools and fruit trees to students from visiting schools of the rural area. He also planted a fruit tree in the school garden and announced the donation of a service ram to the host school and a donation of JMD10 million by the Jamaica Dairy Industry Board to assist with securing the school’s perimeter and the development of a pasture.

In Belize, a national ceremony and exhibition were held at the Belize High School of Agriculture with various displays of the country’s food and culture.