Page 14 - Caribbean-Central America Profile 2018

REGIONAL

CARIBBEAN-CENTRAL AMERICA PROFILE 2018

In adopting the goals of the 2030 Agenda According to the three agencies, the agricultural to slip into decline. Agricultural development
on Sustainable Development and the Paris sector is the most affected by climate change, policies and initiatives in tandem with national
Agreement on Climate Change, the international which is essential when considering that it development policies as well trade policies should
community took responsibility for building contributes 5 percent of regional GDP, 23 be developed, implemented and sustained to
a sustainable future. But meeting the goals of percent of regional exports and employs 16 achieve enhanced economic growth and welfare
eradicating hunger and poverty by 2030, while percent of the economically active population. for the Caribbean and Central America countries.
addressing the threat of climate change, will
The countries whose agricultural sectors will Praedial larceny is the most extensive among
require a profound transformation of food and
agriculture systems worldwide. suffer the greatest impacts (Bolivia, Ecuador, El all crimes committed in the sub region in terms
Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua and Paraguay) of the number of persons and families affected.
The effects of climate change on agricultural also face significant challenges in terms of food On average 82 percent of farmers and fishers
production and livelihoods are expected to security. affected are commercial or semi commercial
intensify over time, and to vary across countries producers between the ages of 45 and 50 years.
and regions. Beyond 2030, the negative impacts Some countries in the region, as well as CELAC, Poor and vulnerable farming populations are
of climate change on the productivity of crops, have already taken important steps in designing not spared. 98 percent of all producers surveyed
plans for adaptation of the agricultural sector
livestock, fisheries and forestry will become to climate change, but the challenges are have experienced loss of produce from theft -
increasingly severe in all regions. more than 332,000 fisher folk families, and
still considerable. Only in terms of financial well over 1,000,000 crops and livestock farm
The impact of climate change in Latin America resources, without considering the necessary families. The crime also has potentially high,
and the Caribbean will be considerable because policy changes, it will require around 0.02 though undetermined, social costs to welfare
of its economic dependence on agriculture, the percent of annual regional GDP.
low adaptive capacity of its population and the in farming communities, livelihoods and
household food security. More than 90 percent
geographical location of some of its countries, Agriculture is too important to the economic of producers regionally agree that it is the single
notes a new study by FAO, ECLAC and ALADI. and social welfare of the Caribbean and Central
America Regions and should not be allowed greatest disincentive to investment in the sector.

A-8 Caribbean-Central American Action