Government Pledges Agricultural Revitalization to Combat 80% Food Import Bill
In a commanding keynote address at the Zero Hunger Trust Fund’s 10th-anniversary celebration, Prime Minister Dr. Godwin Friday laid out a stark economic reality: St. Vincent and the Grenadines currently imports an estimated 80% of what the nation consumes.
This heavy reliance on imported food means that Vincentian households are directly absorbing global inflation, rising fuel costs, and supply chain disruptions.
Highlighting findings from the 2026 budget address, Prime Minister Friday noted that more than one in three Vincentians is currently living in poverty, or is merely one missed paycheck or natural disaster away from falling into poverty.
He pointed to the devastating impacts of Hurricane Beryl in 2024, which stripped local markets of fresh produce, to illustrate the urgent need for national resilience.
To combat these vulnerabilities, the Prime Minister announced aggressive measures to revitalize the agricultural sector, which his administration considers a central pillar of its economic strategy alongside tourism, the blue economy, and the new economy.
A major priority is tackling praedial larceny—the theft of crops and livestock—which has severely undermined farmer confidence. The government also plans to invest heavily in agricultural infrastructure, including improved irrigation and water systems backed by a $50 million climate resilience water infrastructure project, as well as guaranteeing market access for local farmers.
Prime Minister Friday issued a strong mandate to the Ministry of Agriculture to shift focus toward backyard and subsistence gardening rather than solely prioritizing export crops like bananas. “
Food security doesn’t come from stockpiling cans of corn beef… It comes from producing it ourselves,” the Prime Minister declared. He ultimately challenged the ZHTF to work toward a future where the fund is no longer necessary, stating that sustained food security must eventually replace the need for poverty alleviation.