Page 4 - Agric Info Newsletter 02 2017

ernment, Hon. Julian Francis, Prime Minister
of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Dr. Ralph
Gonsalves expressed their gratitude for yet
another generous contribution from Taiwan.

Machinery being put to use by RASFARCO

The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries and Rural Transformation has the mandate to manage a vast
expanse of the country’s natural resources to ensure sustainable livelihoods for the rural population and in
general contribute to economic returns and growth for the country.

Redrawing the baselines for the sector in the context of climate change will call for us to understand the ba-
sis for the sustainable exploitation of our forestry, agricultural and fisheries resources to meet aforemen-
tioned individual, community and national goals.

This basis lies in the preservation, conservation and protection of these resources which is brought into
sharper focus given current trends in climate patterns. The evidence is clear that new climate patterns have
wreaked significant havoc on individuals, rural community, infrastructure and agricultural production and
further threaten the preservation and the sustainable exploitation of our forestry and agricultural resources
for improved livelihoods and economic gain.
Therefore as we go forward, redrawing our baselines for the sector
in the context of climate change will call for our focus to be data
driven and evidence-based and less dependence on just following
gut-feelings. In other words, the promotion of data driven, evi-
dence-based development must permeate preservation, conserva-
tion, protection and sustainable exploitation of our natural re-
sources whether in the forest, land or at sea.

Central to the promotion of a data driven, evidence based develop-
ment, professional partnerships on the basis of mutual respect and
honesty must be forged between all stakeholders especially the
leaders and managers (policy, administration and technical), and
the exploiters of the resources for sustainable livelihoods and by ex- Farming practices that facilitate for the
tension the sector’s contribution to the economic prosperity of the effects of climate change.
nation.

A major pillar for redrawing our baseline in the midst of climate change is the promotion and communica-
tion of relevant information to foster preservation, conservation, protection and sustainable exploitation of
our natural resources. This is congruent with a data driven, evidence based focus.