POSITION PAPER
Country : Jamaica
Committee : FAO
Topic Area : Ending Hunger through
Sustainable Aquaculture System
To live suffering in hunger is a horror to the human race. It is a terrifying truth to
say that 815 million people in the world are still suffering from hunger 1. It is our duty, our
job, and should be our priority concern to eradicate hunger as well as poverty in the world.
Jamaica, as the part of world community, has been actively pursuing the UN Sustainable
Development Goals, which one point that we highlight here is to end poverty and hunger
in any kind of form, anywhere. In fulfilling that mission, the Ministry of Agriculture in
Jamaica assisted by Jamaica Information Service (JIS) Think Tank has put out programs
in place to improve the quality of life of rural populations. These includes in eradicating
hunger and poverty through fisheries management project, set up small-scale hydroponics
unit, as well as US$5 million food security program funded by the Italian government. 2
It can’t be denied to the fact that population growth are increasing. We are also
facing the fact that by 2030, there will be 8 million people in the world, and 20 years from
that, there will be 9 million of people. This will mean that more land and basic necessities
will be on demand. Looking to the fact that more land will be used for living, we cannot lay
on agriculture sector anymore for food security. It is time for us to look at another
potential that we have, which one of it is aquaculture.
As the third biggest island in the Caribbean Sea, the program to eradicate hunger
and poverty through fisheries management project has been one main concern for
Jamaica. The fisheries management, also known as the aquaculture industry, has become
a commercialized industry since 2006 where 189 farmers utilize approximately 1100
hectares to produce 8019 tons of aquaculture product. One major production in
aquaculture industry in Jamaica is the tilapia. Estimated 800 to 1000 people are being
employed within this production and is contributing to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
0.29 with a potential to be increased. The development of this industry has play a good
role in supporting the local economy also contributes to food security and to the alleviation
of poverty.3
Seeing the contribution given from aquaculture industry in eradicating hunger and
poverty in Jamaica, Jamaica would like to expand its role in eradicating hunger and
poverty in the world. However, a good cooperation will be demanded in fulfilling this
mission. Not to forget as well, there are some issues that we need to address in order to
achieve zero hunger in the world. Hence, Jamaica is proposing some action to be taken by
states involved in the Food and Agriculture Organization in order to eradicate hunger in
the world. Those are:
1 2016 World Hunger and Poverty Facts and Statistics. (December 2016). Retrieved from
https://www.worldhunger.org/2015-world-hunger-and-poverty-facts-and-statistics/ accessed on April 2018.
2 FAO Committed to Fighting Poverty and Hunger. Retrieved from http://jis.gov.jm/fao-committed-to-fighting-poverty-
and-hunger/ accessed on April 2018
3 National Aquaculture Sector Overview – Jamaica. Retrieved from
http://www.fao.org/fishery/countrysector/naso_jamaica/en accessed on May 2018
1. Conduct a joint cooperation program to develop aquaculture in the
world. These action will require some steps to be taken
Encourage land-lock states, well-developed countries and low marine
resources countries to invest in countries with high marine and
aquaculture potential especially to the developing country and least
economically developing countries.
Country being invested, which in this matter are developing country and
least economically developing countries with high marine and
aquaculture potential are encouraged to reduce the investment rate, and
export the aquaculture product to the investors.
2. Create an action plan to address climate change challenge
No matter how good our work in ensuring the food security, if there is still
another issue that we are facing, it will never be enough. To ensure the
development of aquaculture is adequate for the food security, we need to
address the climate change challenge. Hence, we encourage states to create an
action plan in order to address climate change challenge by agree to reduce gas
emission, commit to use eco-friendly fishing and aquaculture tools, as well as
commit to a good cooperation in keeping the water quality.
By conducting a comprehensive joint cooperation program, it is hoped that the
funding for the development of aquaculture will be fulfilled and in the same time the
distribution of the product will be well spread especially for the land-lock countries and
low marine resources. This program will work well in ensuring the food security for
humanities if and only if we can address the challenge that become a constraint in this
matter. One of it is the climate change challenge. By reducing the cause of climate change,
it is hoped that the marine and water quality will be going on a good track and the
aquaculture program can be developed well to ensure the food security and help us in
eradicating hunger and poverty.
REFERENCES
Aiken, K.A. (2002). Aquaculture in Jamaica. Naga, WorldFish Center Quarterly Vo.25
No. 3 and 4.
World Hunger. (2016). 2016 World Hunger and Poverty Facts and Statistic. Hunger
Notes. [online] Available at: https://www.worldhunger.org/2015-world-hunger-and-
poverty-facts-and-statistics/ (Accessed April 2018)
Jamaica Information Service. (2003). FAO Committed to Fighting Poverty and Hunger.
Jamaica Social Investment Fund. [online] Available at: http://jis.gov.jm/fao-committed-
to-fighting-poverty-and-hunger/ (Accessed April 2018)
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. (2005). National Aquaculutre
Sector Overview – Jamaica. Fisheries and Aquaculture Department. [online] Available at
http://www.fao.org/fishery/countrysector/naso_jamaica/en#tcN70019 (Accessed May
2018)
