FAO Caribbean Office FAO-SLC and CDB sign US$1.2M 3-year grant agreement for Cassava Production

​The Food and Agriculture Organization Sub-Regional Office for the Caribbean (FAO-SLC) and the Barbados-based Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) have signed a grant agreement which will stimulate new investments into the regional agriculture sector.  The grant funds will be used to develop the capacity of three Caribbean countries including Dominica to evaluate and improve the production of cassava.
 
The three-year project, valued at USD 1.2 million, is expected to introduce new improved varieties of cassava into the region as well as link farmers with new markets, namely Agro-processors.
 
At present, the Caribbean’s food import bill (FIB) currently stands at more than USD 4 billion per annum however, there is considerable scope for reducing the FIB by replacing significant proportions of wheat flour in bread and bakery products with cassava.
 
According to a release, the FAO will also be launching a Technical Cooperation Project in Dominica aimed at supporting the development of the cassava value chain.   In addition, the project will support the introduction of postharvest handling strategies and efficient procession options value added cassava products.