St. Kitts and Nevis is making final preparations to host Caribbean Week of Agriculture (CWA) from 29th September to 3rd October, 2025. The event was officially launched on 15th July during a virtual ceremony broadcast from CARICOM’s headquarters in Georgetown, Guyana, with wide participation from regional and international agricultural stakeholders.
Under the theme “Sowing Change, Harvesting Resilience: Transforming Our Caribbean Food Systems for 2025 and Beyond,” CWA 2025 will serve as the Caribbean Community’s premier platform for agricultural collaboration. The event is expected to promote innovation in climate-smart agriculture, facilitate meaningful dialogue, and advance regional food security goals.
Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Marine Resources for St. Kitts and Nevis, Samal Duggins, highlighted the significance of hosting the regional forum amidst ongoing challenges such as climate change, high shipping costs, and logistical issues. Despite these setbacks, he celebrated the resilience of Caribbean farmers and stakeholders, stating, “These challenges… illuminated our resilience… our capacity to build systems that are not merely reactive, but proactive and sustainable.”
CWA 2025 promises a robust line-up of technical workshops, forums, business networking opportunities, and field visits. Minister Duggins emphasised that the conference represents a call to action to transform how food is produced, processed, and protected, stressing the need for both financial investment and mobilisation of human and intellectual capital.
Dr. Wendell Samuel, Acting Assistant Secretary-General at the CARICOM Secretariat, reaffirmed CWA’s role in uniting the region against the threats of climate change and food insecurity. “It plays a pivotal role in reshaping public perception and supporting the growth of the region’s food systems,” he said.
The week-long event will also include a Special Meeting of the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) on Agriculture, and an Open Expo showcasing sustainable farming practices. Ambassador David Prendergast of the CARICOM Secretariat noted that the diverse range of participants—from farmers and policymakers to private sector leaders and academia—underscores the Caribbean’s collective resolve for food system transformation.
Youth engagement will also take centre stage at CWA 2025. Teesha Mangra, Chair of the CARICOM Youth Advisory Body, said topics such as agri-innovation, digital market access, youth entrepreneurship, and climate resilience will dominate youth-led forums. “We are not the future; we are present drivers of regional resilience,” she asserted.
International partners have also pledged their support. Dr. Manuel Otero, Director General of IICA, commended the theme’s relevance and reaffirmed IICA’s commitment to supporting rural resilience, production growth, and agricultural employment. FAO’s Assistant Director-General for Latin America and the Caribbean, Máximo Torero, echoed this support, spotlighting the organisation’s work in food security, trade, and youth integration in agri-food systems.
Dr. Patrick Antoine, CEO of the CARICOM Private Sector Organisation, reiterated the CPSO’s dedication to the ‘25 by 2025’ food production initiative and broader regional economic integration via the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME). “We are committed to reducing trade barriers and unlocking the region’s full productive potential,” he affirmed.
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