Food Security Improves In The Caribbean Yet Challenges Persist

This is a 10 per cent decrease when compared to an August 2022 survey, however, it underscored growing financial hardship and challenges due to the rising cost of living in the aftermath of the pandemic.

According to the 2023 Caribbean Food Security and Livelihoods survey, carried out among English-speaking Caribbean countries, 98 per cent of respondents reported high food prices in the three months before the survey, the highest level reported since the first survey in 2020. 

In a region that is highly vulnerable to climate shocks, the survey revealed that 42 per cent of households were affected by climate-related hazards in the 12 months before the survey. These events continue to have a significant impact on climate-sensitive livelihood activities such as agriculture and fisheries.

"In this complex socio-economic environment that is vulnerable to climate change, the priority of CARICOM and national governments to make food accessible amidst these shocks is important.  Collaboration across agriculture, social protection, education, and finance sectors, helps to improve livelihood opportunities and contributes to achieving affordable food for all," says Regis Chapman, Representative and Country Director WFP Caribbean Multi-Country Office.

For persons who reported disruption to their livelihoods, 65 per cent cited the unaffordability of the necessary inputs as the leading cause, with domestic workers and farmers most impacted. Salaried persons are managing slightly better, yet 40 per cent of respondents indicated job losses or salary reductions in the six months before the survey. Others have resorted to alternative or secondary sources of income to meet food and other needs, according to the survey.

The cost of living has had a widespread impact on people’s ability to continue to meet food and other needs. Rising prices for animal feed, fertilizer and fuel have also severely affected respondents engaging in farming and/or fishing.

“Food insecurity is having major effects on the socio-economic welfare of citizens throughout the region, the solution however can only be accomplished through joint regional efforts in the planning and execution of comprehensive sustainable actionable solutions geared towards building resilience against climatic conditions and future market disruptions,” says David Prendergast, Director, Directorate of Single Market and External Trade CARICOM.

The survey’s results are a reminder of the importance of the region’s agenda to reduce imports by 25 per cent by 2025, which includes strengthening food systems in the Caribbean so that they are resilient and adaptive to shocks and building on measures to address the affordability, accessibility, and availability of livelihood inputs.

The survey was completed with the support of the Government of Canada, the European Union and the United States Agency for International Development, Bureau of Humanitarian Assistance.

Note to the editor:

The survey report can be found on wfp.org. An interactive dashboard with results from all rounds of the survey is also available online. The dashboard visually compares the results over time and for the overall region and individual countries. https://analytics.wfp.org/t/Public/views/CaribbeanFoodSecurityLivelihoodsSurvey/Overview

#                 #                   #

The United Nations World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organization saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.