The working groups made several key recommendations and identified existing policy gaps regarding agriculture, tourism, environment, and the blue economy in Barbados. Some of the top recommended policies and actions included creating a national agro-tourism policy and registry, establishing a multi-sectoral committee, and implementing a real-time agricultural market information system. Priority agro-tourism projects focused on culinary tourism, community tourism, and health and wellness tourism. Elements of the recommended national agro-tourism policy centered around stakeholder participation, farm to table programs, monitoring and evaluation, and training.

1. WORKING GROUPS’ KEY RECOMMENDATIONS
Courtyard by Marriott Hotel
March 27 & 28, 2019

2. Existing Policy Framework
Agriculture
1. National Agricultural Policy
2. Incentives to support domestic production (e.g. duty free inputs)
3. Policies to increase production and create employment (FEED, apiculture)
4. Change of use of land from agriculture (e.g. medical marijuana for wellness
tourism in the Scotland District)
5. High import duties for commodities which are produced locally (e.g. poultry)
6. Legislation to combat praedial larceny (Agricultural Products and Livestock
Regulations and Act 2018)
Barbados Agro-Tourism Policy Setting Workshop
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3. Existing Policy Framework
Tourism
1. Tourism Master Plan
2. Tourism White Paper
3. 4 core areas covered:
• Community Tourism
• Culinary Tourism
• Health & Wellness Tourism
• Cultural Heritage Tourism
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4. Existing Policy Framework
Environment
• Restrictions on infrastructure in water sensitive zones
Town Planning (PM’s office)
• Parliamentary approval for land that should not be taken out of agriculture.
Blue Economy
• Fisheries Management and Development Policy
• Protection, sustainability, environmental considerations
Barbados Agro-Tourism Policy Setting Workshop
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5. Existing Policy Gaps
1. Ineffective and Inefficient Regulations and Procedures
a) Inefficient bureaucratic procedures for the importation of materials.
b) Inadequate national traceability, sustainability and sanitary and
phytosanitary systems.
c) Lack of political will to implement protectionist trade measures for the
agriculture sector.
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6. Existing Policy Gaps
2. Inadequate Enabling Environment and Policies
Absence of:
a) a user friendly, real-time market information platform.
b) promotion of linkages between the tourism and agriculture sectors.
c) clear guidelines on how to access incentives (including duty free concessions)
d) a standard mechanism for accessing financing and technical assistance for
agricultural and agro-tourism projects.
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7. Existing Policy Gaps
2. Inadequate Enabling Environment and Policies (Cont’d)
a) Inadequate coordination of information systems and databases.
b) A clear land use policy for agricultural land required.
c) Designation of vending spaces and activities and the regularisation of
vending required.
d) Agricultural impact assessments legislation and a national aquaculture
policy required.
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8. Existing Policy Gaps
3. Insufficient Coordination and Information Sharing Among Actors
a) Research data across several agencies.
b) Uncoordinated national crop scheduling and production.
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9. Recommended Policies and Actions
1. Creation of a national agro-tourism policy and registry.
2. Establishment of a national agro-tourism multi-sectoral committee with Cabinet
approved terms of reference, plan and budget.
3. Public-private sector Memorandum of Agreement to increase the percentage of
local foods used by the hotel/food service sector.
4. Enhanced inter-Ministerial coordination through the establishment of a Working
Group.
5. Implementation of an effective communication platform between stakeholders to
facilitate greater levels of stakeholder engagement and information sharing.
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10. Recommended Policies and Actions
6. Implementation of a real-time agricultural market information system (supply,
demand, price, standards, regulations, players).
7. Enhanced national agricultural health and food safety systems, including
traceability.
8. Increased value added products through agro-processing and linkages between
the agriculture and manufacturing sectors.
9. Restrictions on the importation of crops/foods that could be produced locally.
10. Incorporation of climate smart and sustainable agricultural practices.
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11. Recommended Policies and Actions
11. Training, education and empowerment of key stakeholders, including farmers,
chefs, consumers and the youth.
12. Public awareness campaigns on the benefits of consuming locally produced
foods.
13. Improved participation of women and the youth.
14. Farmers’ training programmes.
15. Increased penalties and fines for praedial larceny.
16. Simple, efficient and timely procedures to access financial incentives and
technical assistance.
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12. Agro-Tourism Project Priorities
Culinary Tourism
1. Inventory of local culinary products: foods, events and attractions linked to
festive holidays, culture and heritage (including status of compliance with food
safety and health requirements)
2. Mapping of existing systems of procurement, demand requirements and
identifying constraints and opportunities.
3. Establishment of reliable production systems for crop, livestock and fishery
products matched to demand
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13. Agro-Tourism Project Priorities
Culinary Tourism (Cont’d)
4. Establishment of infrastructural and logistical support for Farm to Table and
Boat to Throat programmes (e.g. packhouses, agro-processing plants, cool
chain)
5. Review and updating of relevant standards, legislation and regulations
6. Training and capacity building
7. Government/private funded tourism experience sites (sugarcane, black belly
sheep, cotton, coconuts)
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14. Agro-Tourism Project Priorities
Community Tourism
1. Farm Stays, Tours, Sugar/Rum Museums, Agro-Heritage, Rural Tourism Routes,
Health & Wellness:
• PEG Farm and Nature Reserve, Cocohill Farm, Nicholas Abbey route,
West Indies Distillers Museum, Cotton
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15. Agro-Tourism Project Priorities
Health and Wellness Tourism
• Agro-Eco Tourism
• Organic tourism
• Herbal gardens and herbal products for spas, gifts, cosmetics
• Medicinal cannabis
• Api-tourism
• Spas
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16. Agro-Tourism Project Priorities
Other Priorities
1. A national central packing facility
2. Agriculture census
3. Public education and awareness programmes
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17. Recommended National Agro-Tourism Policy
Elements
1. Enhanced interaction and participation of stakeholders in the tourism,
manufacturing and agriculture sectors.
2. Implementation of “farm to table” and “boat to throat” programmes.
3. Effective monitoring and evaluation.
4. Training and public educational programmes.
5. Stricter land use and preservation laws and regulations.
6. Penalties for non-compliance.
7. Effective and timely data collection and dissemination.
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