Estimated millions lost annually through theft

ST GEORGE'S, Grenada (CMC):

Conservative estimates have placed the annual loss resulting from praedial larceny to crop and livestock farmers in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) at US$385 million.

The CARICOM Council of Ministers for Trade and Agriculture endorsed a report, entitled Analysis of the State of Praedial Larceny in Member States of CARICOM, during the ninth annual Caribbean Agriculture Week, which concluded here on Friday.

The report said that in some countries, the loss varies between six per cent and 18 per cent of annual agriculture output.

"Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago provide the highest estimates of annual loss, with Jamaica's share being US$50 million annually, or six per cent of agriculture output, and Trinidad and Tobago US$22.6 million annually," said the document which also provided a number of recommendations to reduce the impact.

"St Vincent and the Grenadines, one of the smaller economies, provided estimates of US$2.2 million annually."

Big offence

The report said that the extent and nature of praedial larceny in some states has changed from the petty crime of 20 years ago to an offence resulting in millions in losses, which has become a disincentive to investment for agricultural activities.

"It is now organised, being done well coordinately, and sold in community markets; it's now part of organised crime," head of the Caribbean Agriculture Research Development Institute, Dr Arlington Chesney, said.

Praedial larceny has been recognised at the highest level of leadership in CARICOM as one of the constraints to the successful implementation of the Regional Transformation Programme for Agriculture.