CARICOM Launches Regional Webinar Series to Strengthen Agricultural Preparedness Ahead of Hurricane Season

As the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season approaches, the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat is rolling out a regional webinar series designed to bolster disaster preparedness across the agriculture and fisheries sectors. This five-part series begins on Friday, May 9, and will run weekly through June 6, 2025.

The initiative is a collaborative effort between the CARICOM Secretariat and several regional and international partners, including the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA), Caribbean Agricultural Health and Food Safety Agency (CAHFSA), Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI), Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), and the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA).

Each one-hour webinar will be livestreamed on CARICOM’s social media platforms and will spotlight key strategies for agricultural disaster preparedness and response.

The series will launch with a session on Disaster Preparedness for On-Farm and Sea Assets, offering practical guidance on protecting farming equipment, fishing vessels, and essential infrastructure. The discussion will also cover measures to secure input supplies and maintain continuity in the face of extreme weather events.

On May 16, attention will turn to crop production with Disaster Preparedness: Crops – Open Field and Protected Systems. This session will explore how to increase resilience in both traditional and protected farming systems through climate-smart agriculture and structural safeguards.

The webinar scheduled for May 23 will focus on livestock management, addressing emergency planning for animal sheltering, feed preservation, disease prevention, and contingency strategies for livestock farmers.

On May 30, the series will highlight the fisheries sector, emphasizing the protection and storage of fishing gear and vessels, along with the use of early warning systems to ensure the safety and readiness of fishers during storm events.

The final session, set for June 6, will delve into Disaster Response and Recovery. This webinar will provide insights into post-disaster rehabilitation, rebuilding strategies, and avenues for accessing financial aid, insurance, and support services.

The series will conclude with a panel discussion featuring experts from CARICOM, FAO, and CDEMA.

This webinar series is part of CARICOM’s ongoing commitment to enhancing climate resilience across the region. By equipping stakeholders with practical tools and knowledge, the Secretariat aims to fortify the agricultural and fisheries sectors against the mounting challenges posed by climate change and extreme weather. -(CMC)