CARICOM on praedial larceny

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



The CARICOM Council of Ministers for Trade and Agriculture endorsed a report, titled “Analysis of the State of Praedial Larceny in Member States of CARICOM”, during the Ninth Annual Caribbean Agriculture Week held recently in Grenada.



The report said that in some countries the loss varies between 6 and 18 per cent of annual agriculture output.



According to the report, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago provide the highest estimates of annual loss with Jamaica’s share being US$50 million annually or 6 per cent of agriculture output.



The annual loss for Trinidad and Tobago has been estimated at US$22.6 million annually.



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