Praedial larceny hitting small farmers hard

By Pushpa Balgobin

in Paramaribo, Suriname

 

Praedial larceny is responsible for up to US$390 million in agriculture losses annually across the Caribbean region, Technical Advisor to the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States on behalf of the Food and Agriculture Organisation’s sub-regional office, Reuben Stewart says.

Speaking on strengthening production and productivity support for the region at the opening of Caribbean Week of Agriculture in Paramaribo, Suriname on Monday, Stewart emphasised that the income of the OECS countries in relation to the gross domestic contributions of agriculture was not as great as the losses.

He highlighted that the theft of agricultural produce was “hitting at the core of survival of agriculture in the region.”

Stewart said that regionally a multi-disciplinary approach was needed to tackle the issue with an emphasis on detection of agriculture theft and greater enforcement of existing legislation.

Currently, Stewart noted, the crime allows for stolen agriculture products to enter markets rather seamlessly through