GEORGETOWN, Guyana – New Zealand is providing US$1.6 million to the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), targeting women and youth in agriculture, as the region moves towards reducing its food import bill by 25 per cent by 2025.
CARICOM Secretary-General, Dr. Carla Barnett, and the new Plenipotentiary Representative of New Zealand to CARICOM, Linda Charlotte Te Puni, signed the grant funding agreement
The regional food security project titled “CARICOM BOOST: Women and Youth in Agriculture,” is part of New Zealand’s commitment to further deepen development cooperation with CARICOM and seeks to enhance sustainable production, climate change resilience and profitability of 47 CARICOM women and youth farmer groups in 10 member states.
he general aim of the project is to promote climate smart agriculture through sustainable agriculture production and Barnett noted that the project reflects a collaborative approach that will impact positively on the Region’s food security system and benefit the most vulnerable
Te Puni said New Zealand can provide additional support in areas such as food security, renewable energy, transportation and regional connectivity, disaster risk reduction, management of sargassum invasive species, and facilitating closer collaboration between the Community and the Pacific Island Forum.
Additionally, the Manaaki New Zealand Scholarship Programme provides opportunities for related knowledge expansion and skills development for Caribbean nationals.
