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Mustapha urges stronger collaboration to transform Caribbean agriculture
(Kaieteur News) – Minister of Agriculture and Chairman of the CARICOM Agriculture Ministers Task Force, Zulfikar Mustapha, has called for stronger regional collaboration and decisive action to transform Caribbean agriculture, as he delivered remarks as the guest speaker at the opening of the National Agriculture and Trade Show 2026 in Belize.
Minister of Agriculture Zulfikar Mustapha addressing the opening of the National Agriculture and Trade Show 2026 in Belize.
In his address, Minister Mustapha spoke directly to the role agriculture plays in the lives of Caribbean people, grounding his message in the everyday realities of farmers and rural communities. He stressed that farmers must be recognised as central to the region’s development.
At the same time, he was clear about the challenges ahead. He pointed to climate variability, rising input costs, global supply chain disruptions, and increasing competition as real and growing pressures on the sector, adding that structural issues such as limited arable land, gaps in financing, praedial larceny, and transportation constraints continue to affect productivity across the region.
Minister Mustapha, however, said that even though there were challenges, there were also opportunities to modernise the sector.
“Within these challenges lies tremendous opportunity to modernise our production systems, embrace technology, strengthen value-added industries, and build a more resilient and food-secure Caribbean,” he said.
Minister Mustapha during the exhibition.
He reaffirmed the region’s commitment to the CARICOM food security agenda, which aims to reduce the regional food import bill by 25 per cent and build a more self-reliant and sustainable agricultural system. According to Minister Mustapha, the region is already seeing encouraging progress, with countries like Belize playing a leading role.
He highlighted Belize’s efforts under the expanded “25 by 2025 +5” initiative, noting its strong performance and ambitious targets for food import replacement. Investments in key commodities and support for small farmers, he said, are helping to reshape the country’s agricultural landscape while contributing to regional goals.
Minister Mustapha also pointed to growing cooperation between Guyana and Belize, including a recent Memorandum of Understanding focused on areas such as climate-smart agriculture, agro-processing, livestock development, fisheries, and technology transfer.
“Each of our countries has unique strengths. By aligning these strengths, we can build a more efficient and balanced regional food system. Our approach is not one of competition; it is one of complementarity,” he explained.
He outlined key priorities for the region, including modernising production systems, expanding agro-processing and value addition, removing barriers to intra-regional trade, and embracing innovation and digital technologies. He also underscored the importance of bringing young people into the sector.
“We must reposition agriculture as a modern, profitable, and rewarding career path,” he said, pointing to the need for greater investment in education, entrepreneurship, and access to land and financing.
On the issue of climate change, Minister Mustapha noted that Caribbean farmers remain on the frontlines and require continued support. Building resilience, he said, will depend on sustained investment in adaptation strategies, disaster risk management, and sustainable land and water use.
“Agriculture is not an isolated sector. It is deeply interconnected with trade, health, tourism, and overall economic development. A stronger agricultural sector means improved food security, reduced import dependence, greater economic stability, and more resilient communities,” he said.
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- agriculture, Caribbean, CARICOM Agriculture Ministers Task Force, National Agriculture and Trade Show
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