Coronavirus and Food Security in the Caribbean:In the short term, local production by farmers and backyard gardeners can be promoted

Dr. Lystra Fletcher-Paul

By Dr. Lystra Fletcher-Paul

As the Covid-19 pandemic rapidly unfolds around the world and particularly the Caribbean, people are now awakening to the new reality of the far-reaching impacts that this pandemic will have on their lives in the future. One of the sectors that will be affected is regional food and nutrition security.

There will be impacts on all dimensions of food and nutrition security – food availability, access, utilisation, and stability.

Food availability, both from local production and imports, will be reduced. In terms of local production, our farmers, with their average age being 60 years and over, are among the most vulnerable to the virus.