Jamaican small farmers implement hedgerow/alley cropping to mitigate the impacts of hydro-meteorological hazards. The hedgerows/alley cropping system is the growing of crops, usually food crops, in an alley formed by trees or woody shrubs that are cut back at crop planting and maintained as hedgerows by frequent trimming during cropping...

Guinea grass mulching is one of the local drought-mitigation strategies adopted in the low-rainfall areas of Jamaica. After the land preparation, dried guinea grass is applied in a matted form over the area to be cultivated. This practice helps crop to survive during the dry season without having to recur...

This practice briefly describes the introduction of rainwater harvesting and the use of gravity drip irrigation on small vegetable farms in Jamaica to address the water scarcity problem farmers are facing. The technology was validated in the parish of St. Elizabeth, which is the leading producer of cash vegetables in...

Este documento presenta a FAO los conceptos utilizados en un análisis integrativo de estudios de caso realizados en Guatemala, Jamaica, Paraguay, Perú y Brasil en el marco de los sistemas de Asistencia Técnica y Extensión Rural (ATER), y un conjunto de recomendaciones cuyo objetivo es mejorar dichos servicios para agricultoras...

The publication of this document seeks to promote a critical analysis of the conditions of family agriculture in Caribbean countries; a reflection on possible scenarios that allow its strengthening and sustainable development; and a debate on the design and implementation of public policies that can generate the conditions so that...

Small-scale farmers in Jamaica and across five other Caribbean countries are being empowered to play greater roles in the food security of the region, through the ‘Sustainable, profitable value chains and market linkages in the Caribbean’ project. The project which is estimated to cost some US$1.5 million was officially launched on...

To ensure food security, the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM), the regional body responsible for the responsible use of regional resources, is promoting aquaculture as part of a range of initiatives to build climate-resilient fisheries. A five-year plan has been drafted by the Secretariat and a working group established to...

La publicación "PETROCARIBE: 10 años de lucha contra el hambre. Lecciones Aprendidas", contiene la sistematización producto de una reciente investigación realizada por el Programa de Cooperación Venezuela-FAO, SANA, de las historias de éxito contra el hambre y la desnutrición consecuencia de planes y proyectos implementados en el marco de los...

Farmers in the eastern end of the country were recently introduced to an innovative way of beating the drought which still has its grips on the country. The Jamaica Sustainable Farm Enterprise Programme (Source Farm) in Johnstown, St Thomas, hosted a farmers' workshop which focused on simple systems that can help...

An opportunity not to be missed takes place in Bridgetown, Barbados next month. Some 250 leaders, decision-makers and agrifood actors will be gathering for the first Caribbean-Pacific Agri-Food Forum. A key event for both regions, the forum will be held from November 2 to 6, an action-packed week devoted to...

Técnicos agrícolas de 12 países de América Latina y el Caribe (ALC) conocieron, en Costa Rica, nuevas alternativas para agregar valor a la producción de yuca (Manihot esculenta) y tecnologías modernas de procesamiento para este cultivo, lo cual les permitirá fortalecer la industria, promover la diversificación de mercados y mejorar...

Farmers will be assisted in marketing selected produce and creating links in the region, with the establishment of the Caribbean farmer’s network (CAFAN). Chief Coordinator, Jethro Greene says it was recognized that everyone cannot get involved from the inception; so CAFAN will work with those who are willing to get...

The Caribbean Farmers Network has signed on June 20, 2015, a cost-sharing contract for a project titled, "Sustainable, profitable value chains, and market linkages in the Caribbean" with the Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Co-operation (CTA). CaFAN and CTA have been long standing partners since the inception of CaFAN in...

Small-scale farmers in the Caribbean, including Jamaica, are to benefit from a project geared at building marketing linkages across the region. The project, dubbed 'Sustainable, profitable value chain and market linkages in the Caribbean', is being spearheaded by Sandals Foundation, Caribbean Farmers Network Inc (CaFAN) and the Technical Centre for Agriculture...

This new FAO report – in English and Spanish – looks at progress made in“growing greener cities” in Latin America and the Caribbean – cities in which urban and peri-urban agriculture (UPA) is recognized by public policy, included in urban developmentstrategies and land-use planning, supported by agricultural research and extension,...

This paper summarises and integrates two reports on agricultural commodity chains prepared in early 2013 as part of a study of ACP value chains. The reports were funded by FAO and commissioned by the ACP/EU Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (CTA). The two original reports cover a total of...

El informe presenta la agricultura urbana y periurbana en 23 países y 10 ciudades. Muestra como esta actividad es decisiva para la seguridad alimentaria y nutricional de los sectores pobres de la población urbana de la región, que suministra a numerosos habitantes de las ciudades “alimentos locales” frescos de elevado...

The Caribbean Farmers Network (CaFAN) presently represents over 500,000 small farmers spread across fifteen Caribbean countries; Antigua & Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat, St. Kitts/ Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Suriname and Trinidad & Tobago. CaFAN member farmers organisations are directly involved in...

This issue (June, 2013), contains: CaFAN holds Multi-stakeholders National Consultations Training Young People on Youth Policies Memorandum of Understanding signed CTA conducts Impact Study Buyer Grower Forums, stories from Jamaica and Saint Lucia CaFAN members kick-start PROPEL CaFAN Hosts Interns Upcoming Events

Numerous activities have been planned this year to celebrate the International Year of Quinoa, and we are now preparing for the International Year of Family Farming. Both events serve to raise awareness about the need to protect and strengthen Latin America's traditional agricultural production systems and promote them among governments...