![Page 1: Supporting the diversification of exports in the Caribbean and … · 2013-01-09 · Supporting the diversification of exports in the Caribbean and Latin American region through the](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022070917/5fb7e5cd0d60c90da074a774/html5/thumbnails/1.jpg)
Supporting the diversification of exports in the
Caribbean and Latin American region through the
development of organic horticulture -
Establishing an organic export sector - a case study, Trinidad and
Tobago
Joan Petersen,
Organic Agronomist CARDI
![Page 2: Supporting the diversification of exports in the Caribbean and … · 2013-01-09 · Supporting the diversification of exports in the Caribbean and Latin American region through the](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022070917/5fb7e5cd0d60c90da074a774/html5/thumbnails/2.jpg)
Constraints in establishing an organic export sector...
Why Organic?
![Page 3: Supporting the diversification of exports in the Caribbean and … · 2013-01-09 · Supporting the diversification of exports in the Caribbean and Latin American region through the](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022070917/5fb7e5cd0d60c90da074a774/html5/thumbnails/3.jpg)
Producers’ response
• Lower costs of production
• Higher returns for investment
• Environmental conservation and
environmental issues rarely mentioned
![Page 4: Supporting the diversification of exports in the Caribbean and … · 2013-01-09 · Supporting the diversification of exports in the Caribbean and Latin American region through the](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022070917/5fb7e5cd0d60c90da074a774/html5/thumbnails/4.jpg)
Consumers’ response...
• Health and safety aspects
• Taste, nutrition and aroma
• Concern over range of available items and
price
• Resource conservation and environmental
issues seldom mentioned
![Page 5: Supporting the diversification of exports in the Caribbean and … · 2013-01-09 · Supporting the diversification of exports in the Caribbean and Latin American region through the](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022070917/5fb7e5cd0d60c90da074a774/html5/thumbnails/5.jpg)
Policy makers...
• Diversification of traditional markets
• Adaptability of organic technology
• Immediate eligibility of available land
• Revitalization of rural communities and
integration with rural life
• Potential for adding value in producer
region
• Resource conservation and environmental
issues are considered
![Page 6: Supporting the diversification of exports in the Caribbean and … · 2013-01-09 · Supporting the diversification of exports in the Caribbean and Latin American region through the](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022070917/5fb7e5cd0d60c90da074a774/html5/thumbnails/6.jpg)
Constraints in establishing an organic export sector...
• Why Organic Export?
![Page 7: Supporting the diversification of exports in the Caribbean and … · 2013-01-09 · Supporting the diversification of exports in the Caribbean and Latin American region through the](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022070917/5fb7e5cd0d60c90da074a774/html5/thumbnails/7.jpg)
Characteristics of the local
market
• Central market system would not support
the premium prices
• Local marketing system - difficult to
maintain organic integrity - no dedicated
organic area in central marketing
• Most organic produce disposed at the farm-
gate
![Page 8: Supporting the diversification of exports in the Caribbean and … · 2013-01-09 · Supporting the diversification of exports in the Caribbean and Latin American region through the](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022070917/5fb7e5cd0d60c90da074a774/html5/thumbnails/8.jpg)
The organic export sector as a starting point...
• Foreign exchange generation
• Strategy to jumpstart the process of
diversification- attractive price premiums
![Page 9: Supporting the diversification of exports in the Caribbean and … · 2013-01-09 · Supporting the diversification of exports in the Caribbean and Latin American region through the](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022070917/5fb7e5cd0d60c90da074a774/html5/thumbnails/9.jpg)
Requirements for organic export...
• Certification of output
• Known market profile of the export
commodity
• Available output of commodity
• Available dedicated organic equipment,
materials and infrastructure - handling,
transport to carrier.
![Page 10: Supporting the diversification of exports in the Caribbean and … · 2013-01-09 · Supporting the diversification of exports in the Caribbean and Latin American region through the](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022070917/5fb7e5cd0d60c90da074a774/html5/thumbnails/10.jpg)
The local organic industry
Meeting the challenge?
![Page 11: Supporting the diversification of exports in the Caribbean and … · 2013-01-09 · Supporting the diversification of exports in the Caribbean and Latin American region through the](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022070917/5fb7e5cd0d60c90da074a774/html5/thumbnails/11.jpg)
Input supply- products and
services...
• Commercial inputs increasing in availability
• Still a high degree of hesitance to get stock
organic inputs
• Local input production has started- research
and actual production
• A lot of uncertainty and misinformation in
this industry
![Page 12: Supporting the diversification of exports in the Caribbean and … · 2013-01-09 · Supporting the diversification of exports in the Caribbean and Latin American region through the](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022070917/5fb7e5cd0d60c90da074a774/html5/thumbnails/12.jpg)
• Input supplies and services are not suited to
commercial organic agriculture
• Input services are not organized; elements
are there
![Page 13: Supporting the diversification of exports in the Caribbean and … · 2013-01-09 · Supporting the diversification of exports in the Caribbean and Latin American region through the](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022070917/5fb7e5cd0d60c90da074a774/html5/thumbnails/13.jpg)
local production systems...
• Ecological producers are generally self
taught
• Still considered a hobbyist activity
• Sporadic production- systems drift in and
out of active production
• Lack of technical and government support
![Page 14: Supporting the diversification of exports in the Caribbean and … · 2013-01-09 · Supporting the diversification of exports in the Caribbean and Latin American region through the](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022070917/5fb7e5cd0d60c90da074a774/html5/thumbnails/14.jpg)
• Input intensive systems of vegetable
production are favoured
• small acreage - generally under 1 for
vegetable systems ; under 12acres for
orchard crops
• Area of active production is a small
percentage of area under producer control.
![Page 15: Supporting the diversification of exports in the Caribbean and … · 2013-01-09 · Supporting the diversification of exports in the Caribbean and Latin American region through the](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022070917/5fb7e5cd0d60c90da074a774/html5/thumbnails/15.jpg)
Handling and distribution
• No organized post harvest handling
systems
• Post harvest activities limited to on-farm
processing
![Page 16: Supporting the diversification of exports in the Caribbean and … · 2013-01-09 · Supporting the diversification of exports in the Caribbean and Latin American region through the](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022070917/5fb7e5cd0d60c90da074a774/html5/thumbnails/16.jpg)
Meeting the challenges for
organic export
• Certification aspects
• Market profile
information
• Critical mass of
specific outputs
• Technically efficient
and reliable
production base
• Dedicated post
harvest/ handling and
distribution systems or
capacity to comply
with standards for
shared systems
![Page 17: Supporting the diversification of exports in the Caribbean and … · 2013-01-09 · Supporting the diversification of exports in the Caribbean and Latin American region through the](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022070917/5fb7e5cd0d60c90da074a774/html5/thumbnails/17.jpg)
The export challenge...
Certification aspects
No certified systems
• Major constraints:
• Lack of legislation to protect the genuine
article
• High cost - 100% borne by the producer
![Page 18: Supporting the diversification of exports in the Caribbean and … · 2013-01-09 · Supporting the diversification of exports in the Caribbean and Latin American region through the](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022070917/5fb7e5cd0d60c90da074a774/html5/thumbnails/18.jpg)
Market information about organic
produce
• Little is known and the information is not
captured by the records of the state
statistical records /agricultural /organic
organizations
![Page 19: Supporting the diversification of exports in the Caribbean and … · 2013-01-09 · Supporting the diversification of exports in the Caribbean and Latin American region through the](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022070917/5fb7e5cd0d60c90da074a774/html5/thumbnails/19.jpg)
Technically efficient and reliable
resource base
• No.
• Lack of information, technical support
reduces efficiency
• Few farmers have received training in
Certified organic techniques
![Page 20: Supporting the diversification of exports in the Caribbean and … · 2013-01-09 · Supporting the diversification of exports in the Caribbean and Latin American region through the](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022070917/5fb7e5cd0d60c90da074a774/html5/thumbnails/20.jpg)
Compliant handling and
distribution systems
• Do not exist
![Page 21: Supporting the diversification of exports in the Caribbean and … · 2013-01-09 · Supporting the diversification of exports in the Caribbean and Latin American region through the](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022070917/5fb7e5cd0d60c90da074a774/html5/thumbnails/21.jpg)
An Action Plan - proposals from CARDI
Organic Systems Development Project
Production Systems Development
• The production systems needs to be
expanded and organized into a highly
integrated, resilient and self-sustaining
mass that is technically efficient and
reliable
![Page 22: Supporting the diversification of exports in the Caribbean and … · 2013-01-09 · Supporting the diversification of exports in the Caribbean and Latin American region through the](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022070917/5fb7e5cd0d60c90da074a774/html5/thumbnails/22.jpg)
Elements of National Organic
Programme
1. Strengthen the existing systems
• Organization, stabilizing and expansion of
the interdependent sub-systems
2. Commercialize input production and
handling support systems; training
component
3. Maximize use of indigenous materials for
inputs
![Page 23: Supporting the diversification of exports in the Caribbean and … · 2013-01-09 · Supporting the diversification of exports in the Caribbean and Latin American region through the](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022070917/5fb7e5cd0d60c90da074a774/html5/thumbnails/23.jpg)
Elements of National Organic
Programme
4. Required legislation to protect genuine
organic products and production systems
5. Marketing systems development
6. Regional development of the industry
![Page 24: Supporting the diversification of exports in the Caribbean and … · 2013-01-09 · Supporting the diversification of exports in the Caribbean and Latin American region through the](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022070917/5fb7e5cd0d60c90da074a774/html5/thumbnails/24.jpg)
The export challenge...
The development of the regional organic industry
for participation in organic trade world-wide
should not be ignored
![Page 25: Supporting the diversification of exports in the Caribbean and … · 2013-01-09 · Supporting the diversification of exports in the Caribbean and Latin American region through the](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022070917/5fb7e5cd0d60c90da074a774/html5/thumbnails/25.jpg)
Elements of a Regional Organic
Programme:
• Specialization
• Regional bio-safety
• Coordinated response to pest and disease
outbreaks
• Policy on GMOs use in agriculture