CWA conference starts

The likely impact of the US financial crisis on regional agriculture is expected to top the agenda of the 2008 Caribbean Week of Agriculture being held in St Vincent and The Grenadines.



The weeklong conference kicks off this morning at the Fisheries Complex in Kingstown.



Jamaica’s Agriculture Minister, Dr Christopher Tufton is among several regional agriculture ministers expected to attend the conference.



Already there are projections that it’s only a matter of time before local consumers begin to feel the effects of the US financial meltdown.



The Bahamas will probably be the worst affected since 99 per cent of the produce consumed in that country is imported from the United States.



But Jamaica and other countries in the central and eastern Caribbean will not be spared.



Poultry growers for example, have been warned that there will be some impact.



The president and chief executive officer of Jamaica Broilers Group, Robert Levy, has indicated that there will be changing times for poultry growers.



During the conference, officials from the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture will weigh-in on the issue.



Contributions are also expected from The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).



The FAO, which has been monitoring the financial crisis in the US has already raised concerns that the meltdown might compromise food security.



In the meantime, agriculture minister, Dr Christopher Tufton said the Jamaican Government has started several initiatives to increase production.