EDUCATING AND EQUIPPING SMALL RUMINANT PRODUCERS AND PROCESSORS TO ENSURE FOOD SAFETY AND INCREASE PROFITS IS THE FOCUS OF A WORKSHOP SUPPORTED BY THE EU-FUNDED APP PROJECT

Kingstown, St. Vincent and the Grenadines November 11, 2016 – There are over 6 million sheep and goats being raised on farms across the Caribbean and meat from these small ruminants is a highly desirable commodity. From shoulders, shanks and loin chops to burgers, sausages and black pudding, there are a lot of nutritious and delicious options being prepared from small ruminants for Caribbean dinner tables. As such, during the farm to table process, safe and proper handling of these meats for human consumption is of utmost importance.

Monday 10 October, 2016 KINGSTON, Jamaica
Nine Pacific Island researchers and extension officers commenced a two week learning exchange in the Caribbean islands of Jamaica and Trinidad. Over the next 2 weeks extension officers from Vanuatu, Samoa, PNG, Fiji and the Pacific Community will learn and exchange practices covering staple crops such as yams, dasheen (taro), cocoyam (xanthosoma) and sweet potatoes with their Caribbean counterparts.

REGIONAL PLANNERS AND STAKEHOLDERS TO PROVIDE GUIDANCE FOR ON-GOING INITIATIVES & MAKE FINAL RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE APP PROGRAMME AS IT COMES TO A CLOSE

Gros Islet, Saint Lucia, September26-27, 2016
The Caribbean Action under the Agricultural Policy Programme (APP) is all about working together to strengthen agriculture in the Caribbean. The APP is certainly not the first agriculture project in the Caribbean and it won’t be the last. Many organizations and projects have previously contributed advances in the industry and have generated solid platforms upon which even greater gains can be achieved. That understanding has been central to the APP’s success.

EU-INTRA-ACP APP TO HOST A TWO-DAY FORUM DISCUSSING THE WHO, WHAT, WHY AND HOW OF INVESTING IN MICRO, SMALL AND MEDIUM AGRI-ENTERPRISES IN THE CARIBBEAN

KINGSTON, Jamaica, September 21, 2016 – Most everyone probably agrees that farms are important. Without farms and other agricultural enterprises, there would be no food. Countries could rely on imports to feed their population but that is expensive and leaves a country vulnerable. So, why is it so challenging for agricultural enterprises to secure financing and attract investors?

- Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago, September 2016 - 
Discussing the proceedings of a Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) for an agriculture project in the Caribbean probably sounds like a dry subject. It conjures up images of bureaucrats sitting around a table discussing policy and plans, hashing out process and determining progress.  Frankly, that pretty much sums up the TAC for the Agricultural Policy Programme (APP) which took place in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago on 11 and 12 August, 2016. However, if one considers the history of agriculture development projects in the Caribbean, this particular picture becomes quite exciting. It is not that the meetings and topics were unusual, but rather the mix of company.