Due to climate change, it is anticipated that the Caribbean Region will be heavily impacted not only by increased variability and more intense and frequent extreme climatic events, but also by the longer-term tendencies of temperature rise, sea level rise, and variations in precipitation. It is likely the region will face more droughts and floods, as well as other impacts such as soil salinization.

The Region’s agricultural sector is particularly vulnerable with impacts of climate change already being felt by many farmers and rural communities. Farmers in the region must therefore shift to more sustainable agricultural productions systems that are better adapted to the changing climate. To effectively do so, farmers will need an adequate enabling environment, adaptive infrastructure, resilient markets, appropriate policies, and appropriate tools to assure success and sustainability.

Many actions are being undertaken in the region to address the impacts of climate change, some of which focuses on the agricultural sector. However, increased knowledge and action are needed to stimulate the urgent transformation of the agricultural sector to respond to climate change and sustainably increase productivity and incomes. Numerous climate smart agricultural practices and technologies exist, yet greater coordination and cooperation amongst both public and private sector stakeholders, both within and between countries, are needed to capitalize upon them.

Given the urgency for adaptation, a stronger platform on which agricultural sector stakeholders and other relevant actors can exchange experiences and knowledge is needed. To respond, IICA established the Caribbean Climate Smart Agriculture (CCSA) Forum in 2015; now termed the Caribbean Climate Responsive Agriculture Forum (CCRAF) from 2021. The forum acts as a neutral space where all can share, learn, plan, and promote policies, strategies, and actions geared towards building more productive, low emission and sustainable agricultural systems that are well adapted to the impacts of climate change.

Objectives

1. Raise awareness and share knowledge of climate smart agricultural practices, policies and options for the Caribbean region that has the potential to be readily implemented or adopted.

2. Build a community of interested and engaged actors at the regional and national levels that can support the integration of climate change considerations into policy, planning, research, and implementation in the agricultural sector.

3. Promote enhanced coordination and collaboration among actors and institutions to achieve optimal results.

4. Link technical knowledge to practical action on the ground to climate policy processes and demonstrations for implementation and adoption.