Government Puts Food Import Reduction at Centre of 2027 Agriculture Budget 

By S.Browne. Updated 4:57 p.m., Tuesday, August 11, 2026, Atlantic Standard Time (GMT-4).

Reducing Saint Vincent and the Grenadines’ dependence on imported food is being positioned as a key consideration in the preparation of the country’s 2027 Agriculture budget.

Agriculture Minister Israel Bruce has directed divisions within the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries, Rural Transformation and Industry to examine how their programmes and budget proposals can contribute to increasing local production and reducing reliance on imported food.

Bruce made the call on August 6 while addressing Ministry staff at the launch of the Ministry’s 2027 budget preparation exercise at the UWI Global Campus.

He said the budget process should be treated as more than a routine annual exercise, describing it as an opportunity to shape the future direction of agriculture and rural development.

“The 2027 budget is not a routine budget cycle. It is a defining opportunity for all of us to shape the future of agriculture, forestry and rural transformation in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines,” Bruce said.

The Minister identified increased production of vegetables, root crops, citrus, livestock and poultry, along with agro processed products, as areas through which the country could retain more economic value locally.

“When we expand local production of vegetables, root crops, citrus, livestock, poultry and agro processed products, we keep millions of dollars circulating within our economy instead of sending those resources overseas,” he said.

The proposed priorities for Budget 2027 include expanding production of key agricultural commodities, rehabilitating the citrus industry, strengthening livestock production, improving farm access roads, expanding agro processing and increasing market opportunities for farmers.

Bruce also called for stronger links between agriculture, tourism and manufacturing and highlighted the need to increase the amount of value added to locally produced commodities.

He pointed to products such as juices, sauces, dried fruits, packaged meats and essential oils as examples of agro processed goods that could improve farmers’ incomes while creating opportunities for exports.

The emphasis on reducing food imports comes against a backdrop of previously stated concerns about the country’s reliance on imported agricultural food. In February, Bruce told Parliament that Saint Vincent and the Grenadines imported EC$314 million in agricultural food in 2024, up from EC$209.1 million in 2020.

The Minister said at the time that the Government had its focus on reducing agricultural imports while increasing exports.

For the 2027 budget exercise, however, no specific numerical target for reducing food imports was announced in Bruce’s August 6 address.

Instead, the Ministry is being asked to shape its programmes and budget proposals around increased domestic production and greater agricultural productivity.

Bruce also identified several other areas for attention under Budget 2027, including modernising the arrowroot industry, expanding agro processing, strengthening sustainable forestry management and developing the medicinal cannabis industry.

He said traditional cultivators must remain central to the continued growth of the medicinal cannabis sector and called for greater opportunities for their participation.

The Minister further highlighted the need for investment in agricultural research and development, including stronger plant and soil laboratories, as well as greenhouse production, smart irrigation, agricultural mechanisation, drone technology and digital extension services.

Youth participation in agriculture was also highlighted, with Bruce pointing to the completion of a five month Young Farmers Training Project involving 18 participants. Three of the top graduates received a combined EC$24,000 to establish farming enterprises.

Bruce said the various initiatives must contribute to building a more productive and resilient agricultural sector.

“Let us craft a budget that reflects the future we want for Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, a future where agriculture drives economic growth, rural communities prosper, our forests remain strong and our people enjoy greater opportunity and resilience,” he said.

The Ministry’s 2027 budget preparation exercise will inform investment priorities aimed at strengthening agricultural productivity, reducing food imports, supporting rural transformation and advancing the Government’s broader economic development objectives.

END