Although agriculture and fisheries account for only 1.6% of the GDP of the Bahamas, they produce 3% of all jobs and are important for the diversification of the economy. The Government of the Bahamas supports agriculture through a combination of value chain development measures, research and extension services, infrastructure development, and border protection. Support to producers averaged 19.08% of gross farm receipts in 2012-2014, and a significant share of support (29%) was provided in the form of transfers to general services. At the same time, total transfers arising from agricultural policy reached only 0.28% of the national GDP. Reducing barriers to trade, reducing regulations and streamlining access to incentives for farmers, and improving information services will help increase the efficiency and competitiveness of the agricultural sector.

This publication summarizes the agricultural policy analyses conducted in nine Caribbean countries (Suriname, Guyana, Haiti, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Belize, Barbados, The Bahamas, and Trinidad and Tobago) in the framework of the IDB’s Agrimonitor initiative. The document discusses how agricultural policies affect producers and consumers as well as how the limited funding for agricultural services, such as research and infrastructure, could limit the ability of Caribbean farmers to compete effectively in global markets. The analyses presented are therefore meant to contribute to the Caribbean’s regional dialogue for the design of more effective agricultural policies, which will be able to strengthen the sector and improve the lives of people in the region.

Although the agricultural sector contributes only 0.5% to Trinidad and Tobago’s GDP, it accounts for over 4% of employment and is important for the diversification of the economy. The Government of Trinidad and Tobago supports agriculture through a combination of incentives to agricultural producers, support for research and infrastructure, and border protection measures. Support to producers averaged 22.4% of gross farm receipts in 2013-2015, and a significant share of that support (44%) was provided in the form of transfers to general services. At the same time, total transfers arising from agricultural policy amounted to only 0.34% of the national GDP. Reorienting agricultural policy towards goals and actions that are less production-distorting, and that address agricultural productivity and profitability, will help create a possibly small, but efficient agricultural sector, as well as exploit certain specific competitive advantages.

The agricultural sector accounts for 3.8 percent of the GDP of Barbados and 2.9 percent of its jobs. The Government of Barbados considers agriculture to be one of the nation’s potential growth drivers and supports it through a combination of incentives and concessions to agricultural producers, high border protection, and support to research and infrastructure. Support to producers in Barbados averaged 33.4 percent of gross farm receipts in the latest 3 years of the study (2012-2014), while a significant share of total support (38 percent) was provided in the form of transfers to general services. Total transfers arising from agricultural policy reached 1.1 percent of the national GDP. All types of support decreased during the period of study, but the share of price support in support to producers increased. Reorienting agricultural policy from input subsidies and per-hectare payments towards support to general services would be beneficial for agricultural competitiveness and build a foundation for sustainable growth in agriculture.

Este estudio proporciona un análisis completo de la estructura de las políticas públicas de apoyo al sector agropecuario de Panamá, utilizando la metodología de la OCDE de Estimados de Apoyo al Productor (PSE en sus siglas en inglés). La metodología PSE se enfoca en dos elementos principales de apoyo: (i) el efecto de la política gubernamental sobre los precios recibidos por los productores agrícolas, y (ii) el apoyo proporcionado a través de transferencias presupuestarias al sector. El resultado es un conjunto de indicadores que permiten medir y comparar los niveles de apoyo entre productos, en el sector agropecuario en general, y a lo largo de los años. Además, la metodología permite comparar el nivel de apoyo agropecuario en Panamá con el de otros países de la región. Este es el primer estudio de Estimados de Apoyo al Productor que se ha realizado para Panamá, y es el resultado de la colaboración entre la iniciativa Agrimonitor del Banco Interamericano de Desarrollo (BID) y el Ministerio de Desarrollo Agropecuario (MIDA) de Panamá.

The volume contains the papers accepted and published in the proceedings of the 6th International symposium entitled: Agrarian Economy and Rural Development -- Realities and Perspectives for Romania', organized by the Institute of Research for Agricultural Economics and Rural Development, Bucharest in cooperation with, The Institute for Agrarian Economy Romanian Academy, Bucharest, Romania, Institute of Agricultural Economics, Belgrade -- Serbia, Institute for Economy, Finance and Statistics, Chisinau, Republic of Moldova, University of Agrarian Sciences and Veterinary Medicine -- The Faculty Of Management, Economic Engineering in Agriculture and Rural Development, Bucharest, Romania, Academy of Economic Studies -- The Faculty Of Agro-Food And Environment Economy, Bucharest, Romania, under the high scientific patronage of Academy of Agriculture and Forest Sciences "Gheorghe Ionescu Sisesti", held in Bucharest, Romania, November 20, 2015. The proceedings are structured in accordance with the sessions of the conference and it includes papers and relevant contributions on plenary speakers, Economy, management and agricultural marketing and Rural development and agricultural policies. Publishing this volume represents a term of the interest expressed by the highest academic and research groups in Romania and EU with interests in the agricultural sector. In the symposium proceedings are shared knowledge, experience and the newest results of your research in the agrarian economy and rural development domain related to the agro-food quality and safety, sustainability, innovation and fight against climate change, biodiversity preservation, economic efficiency of farms in terms of increasing the environmental performances, efficient use of resources and supporting the shift towards a low carbon economy and resilient to climate change in agriculture and food; social inclusion, poverty reduction and economic development in rural areas etc.The symposium proceedings is structured in 4 specialized sections, where the read my find interesting argues regarding this research field.