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Addressing Food Security Challenges in Barbados – who cares?

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It would appear that while Barbados remains gripped in the throes of solving for crime, traffic congestion, navigating a volatile global economy among other headwinds – our focus on food security and the new buzz word sovereignty has been sliding down the list of priorities.

It is therefore instructive to read about India’s strategy to give impetus to producing food by utilising innovative strategies. See article below – credit: Bentley.

How agriPV can turn India’s farms into dual-purpose powerhouses Premium

India’s ambitious energy transition goals — to have 300 GW of installed solar capacity by 2030 and achieve net-zero emissions by 2070 — put land at a premium. Utility-scale solar projects require large tracts of land while agriculture is already under pressure from competing land use. Agri-photovoltaics can ameliorate this conflict

https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy-and-environment/how-agripv-can-turn-indias-farms-into-dual-purpose-powerhouses/article70772076.ece

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24 responses to “Addressing Food Security Challenges in Barbados – who cares?”

  1. African Rose Avatar
    African Rose

    * There was also a common trope Barbados was going to become an IT Development Centre for the whole world that became forgotten about and is just another distant memory and unrealised dream / wish.

    While US and Israel are still colonisers we are reaching the time of prophecies revealed

    There will be no captured land in Zion

    ◄ Obadiah 1:17 ►
    “But on Mount Zion there shall be deliverance, And there shall be holiness; The house of Jacob shall possess their possessions.

    ▶️ Captured Land, African Rose, Black Root, Black Rose, Rastaman Suite

  2. Pachamama Avatar
    Pachamama

    Food security would soon recieve added impetus as a by-product of this here WW3.

    With chemical fertilizers in short supply and established levels of demand, we could, even in the best of circumstances, expect untold levels of inflation and maybe a malignant stagflation in the immediate coming period.

    During the plantation era starvation was one of the principle malladies bedeviling many within the local population.

    With the perrenial lip service given to food security or food sovereignty the country is sometimes over optimistic about its much talked about intentions in this regard.

    We see India as not much different, especial with the Modi run, racist, Hidusfa party in charge. Indeed, instead of minding his business at home this flyweight was always most interested in being a play thing for Washington. Nothing has changed as Washington is again demanding that Indian farmers must starve, like has happened many times in the past, so that American farmers could from subsidized farm dump such products on India. This well follows the logic of a dying neoliberalism, as lived by the moneyed class around Modi.

    At base, that this bout of starvation will be a consequence of an illegal war in West Asia was not lessened by the fool in the WH last night.

    What is more alarming is that the Iranians who up to this point has not struct back at America, in North America, have just been reported to have accepted receipt of 500 units of the North Korean, but Russian technology enabled, Hwasong 18, nuclear capable, Inter-continental Ballistic Missles (ICBM) with a range of 15,000 miles and able to strike any point in the Western world.

    Well, some believe that millions of dead people may give those still alive an option to eat. For this bout of starvation will not be in Global South coutries alone. So expect to see increasing evidence of starvation amongst White people too.

    Donald Drumpf has remove the world from the proverbial frying pan and has launched it inter a gigantic hell fire only a demented mind could have conjured.. What a born idiot has he always been! The worst of the worse, a kakistocrat, as elected by a population not even he likes.

  3. Form A Line Avatar
    Form A Line

    USA has a presumption that they are #1 Country in the whole wide world
    and it’s people are #1 people in the whole wide world
    and every US President will repeat it like they are making a spectacular speech
    but it is all nonsense as people are people and are people making more people
    and we are all equal in the bigger picture in Jah Jah sight
    Trump is proving the USA #1 fable is a crock a shit and the nation has dumbed down to the max, only love can conquer and peace is the answer
    Trump was asking the wrong question when chatting to the fake jews of Israel

    Now back to the matter.. my God listens to every reggae song with a big smile

  4. Bush Tea Avatar
    Bush Tea

    @ Pacha
    100% on the ball – again!!!

    It is a real pity that you can understand almost everything ELSE…
    …except the good news at the end of the tunnel.

    Unfortunately
    That ‘good news’ (Gospel) resides in a book that is taboo to you…
    LOL

    What a world…
    What a time!

  5. David Avatar
    David

    Nation Editorial 3/4/2026
    EDITORIAL

    Let’s protect the farmers

    WE’VE HEARD FROM THE POLICE in relation to the theft of farmers’ crops and now it is time to hear from the relevant authorities in relation to stray dogs that maul the animals in which cattle farmers invest valuable time.

    The problem rears its head from time to time, but this does not mean that in between the lull in reports there is not great destruction taking place.

    Recently the Barbados Police Service’s Southern Division reported that a series of nightly anti-praedial larceny patrols had been launched in an effort to stamp out the stealing of crops. The crops may circulate leading to thieves profiting from the illgotten gains. However, the flip side is that disheartened farmers would take steps to scale back on planting or get out of the farming business altogether.

    Either scenario is not comforting for a country already struggling with a high food import bill and the threat of a war that could disrupt its and the world’s supply chain.

    Add to this the attacks from wild dogs on the livestock and that can significantly deplete the available meat, milk and other dairy supplies for the population.

    The plaintive cries of farmers facing this problem have been overlooked for far too long and while it may take the threat of war in the Middle East to focus attention on this problem, so be it.

    Authorities such as the Animal Control Unit (ACU) need to pay attention to the outcry from farmers about the attacks and while we acknowledge that the problem, like crop theft, occurs usually at night, that should not be an excuse for neglect.

    Part of the responsibility rests with farmers to ensure that their properties are properly fenced in and some security measures such as alarms and lights are installed. Or, they can employ a sterner approach to the matter.

    Even though our laws regarding animals and the humane treatment of them are not on par with the rest of the dog-loving world, we can anticipate there would be a hue and cry about any unethical approach with farreaching effects if the expectation that animal suffering would not be at a minimum during these exercises.

    Therefore, the ACU and other related agencies must come up with a plan to trap these wild animals and contain any damage to property as a result of the dogs during the attacks that can add to expenses through vet bills or actual loss of livelihood by the killing of the livestock.

    This combination can be unbearable for farmers and one cannot blame them for wanting to exit the industry or take it down to such a manageable scale, it would make no dent in feeding the population.

    Farmers, like other human beings, feel pain and frustration in their daily lives and just as others seek relief from Government agencies, the same must apply for these hard workers.

    The time has come to deal with this problem that, once taken care of, can protect not just farmers’ livelihood but actual lives based on past incidents.

    Authorities such as the Animal Control Unit need to pay attention to the outcry from farmers about the attacks and while we acknowledge that the problem . . .

  6. John A Avatar
    John A

    You want to stamp out the tiefing it’s simply make in a non bailable offence and slap a $5000 fine on it.

    You want to see how laugable the system is? I read last week a man was caught driving without license or insurance and was fined $2000. I could as well do the same as my car insurance premium is higher than that. You call that a fine?

  7. David Avatar
    David

    @John A

    Efficient and relentless enforcement has been our challenge, successive governments can spend as many millions as they want but nothing will change if lack of enforcement of laws are compromised; a precursor for the indiscipline that has been mushrooming.

  8. Hants Avatar
    Hants

    Fish shortage.

  9. Donna Avatar
    Donna

    Who cares? I care. Bajans should be planting in every little space all like now. Pots, pans, buckets, bags, hanging baskets, wide pvc pipes with holes, anything will do. In window sills, in verandas and patios, on flat roofs like my garage roof… some food can even be grown indoors under grow lights, solar powered, of course. Every little bit helps!

    But they won’t. And our government won’t. So starving it is!

  10. Donna Avatar
    Donna

    And if things reach a critical stage, I plan to get a couple of goats. There is plenty of grass at my cousin’s next door and they can eat vegetable and fruit peels from my garden and whoever else has. Goat milk and goat chesse will provide protein. Goat manure will fertilise my plants. I can knock out some blocks from the converted sheds that I made from my mother’s pig pens that she abandoned when she realised that any pigs she raised would become pets. The dogs cannot get in there.

    Little things we can do for ourselves. But we like to think large scale and do nothing.

  11. BAJE Avatar
    BAJE

    Who cares? I care. Bajans should be planting in every little space all like now. Pots, pans, buckets, bags, hanging baskets, wide pvc pipes with holes, anything will do. In window sills, in verandas and patios, on flat roofs like my garage roof… some food can even be grown indoors under grow lights, solar powered, of course. Every little bit helps!

    XXXXXXXXX

    THIS MAKES MUCH SENSE.

    SEEDS CAN BE BOUGHT ON AMAZON.COM CHEAPLY FOR EVERY VEGETABLE THERE IS.

  12. David Avatar
    David

    We say things without understanding the culture that has emerged in recent years in Barbados.

    A culture of stealing and disrespecting people’s property.

    A consumption driven culture instead of producing.

    How many times have we discussed this topic? If the pandemic didn’t disrupt this lazy culture, what will?

  13. Chris Halsall Avatar
    Chris Halsall

    @BAJE: “SEEDS CAN BE BOUGHT ON AMAZON.COM CHEAPLY FOR EVERY VEGETABLE THERE IS.

    Simple question… Why do you yell so much?

    CAPS is not needed. But you always use CAPS. Why? Does that help with your noise?

  14. Donna Avatar
    Donna

    David,

    Well, we deserve to starve. Not an easy death, I would imagine.

  15. John A Avatar
    John A

    @ David

    It is more a culture of “ready made” than economics. We have reached the stage where the drive throughs are now considered our food source. Think about it if people don’t really cook like before why would they want to grow anything to cook? It’s our new culture complete with all the health challenges that come with it.

    Take Monaco for example, one of the riches countries in the world with little land to grow anything on. Decades ago a project was started there known as ” roof top gardens” where people took their roof areas and using pots and other planters started growing vegetables. Today a large percentage of the vegetable they consume come from these small private gardens. Its a matter of culture and ours when it comes to food, is ready made consumption void of health benefits.

  16. David Avatar
    David

    @Donna

    It is amazing we make planting concrete flyovers a priority but same cannot be done to ensuring food security. There is a pressing need to reset leadership in Barbados.

    Keep the hope alive!

  17. David Avatar
    David

    In fact the activity at the drive thrus is a big part of the traffic jam especially at lunchtime and in the evenings. Who to blame the planners? We know that Halloute is a generous donor to both the parties. Therein is part of a big problem.

  18. Hants Avatar
    Hants

    “A new solar breakthrough may overcome a long-standing efficiency barrier. Researchers used a “spin-flip” metal complex to capture and multiply energy from sunlight through singlet fission. The result reached about 130% efficiency, meaning more energy carriers were produced than photons absorbed.

    This could lead to much more powerful solar panels in the future.”

  19. Chris Halsall Avatar
    Chris Halsall

    @Donna… This is a sincere ask.

    I have a flat root. And a water feed (most of the time; BWA have their heads up where the sun doesn’t shine) many hours of the day.

    What do you suggest I start to try growing on my roof?

    I have many pots and growing soil.

  20. Chris Halsall Avatar
    Chris Halsall

    @Hants… There is lot of this kind of reporting happening currently. Some of it is serious.

    My advise is to wait for the noise to settle out, and then (and only then) analyse.

  21. Donna Avatar
    Donna

    Chris Halsall,

    What can be grown on the ground can be grown on the roof. But some plants don’t like full sun and so they may need some shade provided for a few of the hottest hours, in order to maximise yield. Since you are home all day, that should not be an issue. Get some shade cloth and construct a movable or retractable cover. Choose containers that fit the expected size of the plant. You can grow carrots, beans, beets, practically anything, but I have a feeling that tomatoes and the like might attract too many birds. Be sure to companion plant!

    Google is a better friend than I am. Been really good to me so far. A full list of plants and their light requirements is literally at your fingertips.

    Seems that you and I have something in common. We have left car ownership behind and often walk to our destinations. Since I stopped working, I take public transport (mostly outside of peak hours) for long journeys, or taxis when absolutely necessary. My son runs his business from his home office/studio and does the same. A car would be an unnecessary expense. So, my flat roof garage has been empty for a decade. I have more land than I can handle myself and so the roof is also unoccupied.

    I’m off now to check for guavas. The high salt laden winds up here make a mess of one side of the tree. It can’t keep many leaves. The guavas are exposed to the birds’ view. I have a couple who live on my roof. Two damn weirdos they are. We had to help them care for their baby a few weeks ago. When he was about ready to fly, they put him on the ground. They had one drown in my water barrel after he fell off the roof. It was uncovered for a few hours, so it seems they thought the plush lawn grass was safer. We had to bring him inside every night for over a week. He seems to have left home now. Anyway, I don’t want those two taking a peck out of all of the guavas. I don’t mind them eating the whole thing. But this peck, peck, pecking at everything can be a pain.

    I’m out!

  22. Chris Halsall Avatar
    Chris Halsall

    @Donna: “What can be grown on the ground can be grown on the roof.

    Yeah. True. Thank you for the advise.

    Thief from the ground is easy.

    But birds, like monkeys, only eat a little bit before moving on.

  23. Donna Avatar
    Donna

    Chris Halsall,

    No need for thanks. “No man [or woman] is an island.” I am not a selfish person at all, but I do know that it is also in my own interest for Bajans to grow more of their own food.

    Even if I did manage to hang on to my produce during a famine (highly unlikely), who the hell wants to live on an island like Robinson Crusoe?

  24. Donna Avatar
    Donna

    Chris Halsall,

    Please keep me posted as to your progress!

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