Grand Cayman and Cayman Islands Agriculture Study
A consultant from the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation in Agriculture (IICA) arrived in Grand Cayman on Wednesday 25th July to begin a month long review of Cayman's agricultural sector.
Dr. Patrick Alleyne from IICA has been engaged by the Ministry of Agriculture, working through the CARICOM Secretariat, to undertake an incisive review and analysis of the agricultural sector and to prepare draft recommendations and proposals for a new strategic direction.
"Over the next several weeks Dr. Alleyne will be meeting with key Department of Agriculture staff and stakeholders in order to get a comprehensive understanding and to analyze the local agriculture sector," Dr. Benjamin explains. "The findings and recommendations of this study will help guide the strategic development of the sector over the next several years, and for the department specifically, they will also identify a future strategic direction and areas for institutional strengthening and growth."
Key stakeholders to be interviewed by Dr. Alleyne include representative farmers, agricultural society, food importers, wholesalers, supermarkets, restaurants, chamber of commerce, etc. In addition, Dr. Alleyne will be interviewing key personnel in the Ministry of Agriculture, the DoA and other relevant public and private sector institutions; researching and collecting other information necessary for the completion of his assignment. However, Dr. Alleyne's work will not be restricted to Grand Cayman and during visit he will be traveling to the Sister Islands to undertake the same information gathering exercise there, including interviewing key farmers and persons in that sector.
The IICA project will address key component areas including:
A review and analysis of the agriculture sector in the post Ivan period.
Examine, within the context of Government's overall economic development plan for the country, of challenges, opportunities and threats to the sector, suggesting a future direction and strategy; highlighting specific focus areas including crop and livestock activities (including horticulture), land use, inter-sectoral linkages (agri-tourism, etc.), value added/processing activities, niche market opportunities and the overall future of the Cayman Islands Agriculture.
Provide recommendations for the sector including policy and institutional areas to be addressed and types of direct and indirect support required by Government.
Provide recommendations for the strategic direction and institutional strengthening of key entities in the sector including the Ministry of Agriculture, the Department of Agriculture and farmers' organizations.
Prepare an action plan for implementation of the various recommendations.
Dr. Alleyne brings an extensive range of experience and expertise to the project, having spent more than twenty five years working in the field of agricultural development at the international level. He has worked and executed projects for the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), IICA, CARICOM, Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), World Food Council, US AID and several governments both internationally and regionally. On this project Dr. Alleyne will be working closely with other technical experts from IICA in developing the final strategic plan for the future development of the Cayman Islands Agricultural Sector.
What is IICA?
Founded over sixty years ago as part of the Organization of American Stats (OAS), the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation in Agriculture (IICA) is the leading agricultural institution in the Americas, specializing in projects and programs for sustainable agricultural development, food security and increasing rural incomes in the hemisphere. With offices and programmes operating in over 34 countries in the Caribbean, North, Central and South America, IICA continues to be the preeminent organization for agricultural technology development and transfer, training and sector development in the region. For more information on the organization and its programs, visit its website.