Contributing to the development of a cassava industry

Abstract

The food and agriculture sectors in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) are currently facing a number of serious challenges related to low growth and heavy dependence on imported inputs and foods. Historically, the agriculture sector has been the main contributor to economic development in the Caribbean. However the two main economic pillars of the sector – sugar and bananas – have declined significantly over the last decade with earnings from exports of these two commodities drastically reduced d ue to the loss of market access, mainly in Europe.