Areas of Investments

The CARICOM region is pregnant with opportunities for investments in a number of areas including agriculture, industry and services e.g. tourism.Timber is also an important sub-sector. Since this book focuses on " Investment Opportunities in CARICOM Agriculture", however, the emphasis is being put on what is available in this area.

Although plantation agriculture (sugar and banana) is going through a difficult period, there are specific areas which offer strategic opportunities for investments. The same is also true for the "Food Crop Production Sector". In terms of operationalizing the strategy, the following is proposed.

SUGAR: Diversify product output - reduce the production and export of raw sugar and expand the range of by-products including molases utilization. Get involved in new products - ethanol and industrialized sugar. Make greater use of bagasse (the stem from which the juice has been squeezed) and other items now considered waste. Regarding bagasse, there is the option for co generation of electricity. The possibility for gassification of the bagasse promises even better returns.

BANANA: Diversify by exporting less raw banana and producing a wider range of food items including baby foods, cereals, chips etc. Make greater use of the pseudo-stem and leaves of the banana plant for making roofing material, roap etc.

FOOD CROP: Focus on increasing production in the following areas in which the region has comparative cost advantage:

  1. Fish and fish products
  2. Livestock
  3. Oils and fats
  4. Fruits and vegetables
  5. Cereals and grains
  6. Spices and essential oils.

Two additional sub sectors are important

  1. Agriculture inputs and
  2. Seeds and propagating material.

Within every sub-sector we must ensure full exploitation of all by-products and maximum use of all items now discarded as waste. With livestock for beef production, we must ensure not only utilization of the beef but also the skin of the animal for leather, the hair for brush, the hoof for buttons and other ornamentals, the blood for blood pudding and the offals for stock feeds.This process is true for many other items.

As an important accompanyment, we should have all the basic infrastructure e.g. transport facilities and storage rooms in place in adequate quantities Adequate and appropriate research must support all activities.

Some 300 potential projects have been identified for implementation.