Short course on Value Chain Approach in the Caribbean

A five day course on Value Chain Approach in Caribbean Fisheries is being delivered in Paramaribo in Suriname by the UNU-FTP and the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM) July 18-22  as part of ongoing collaboration between the two parties on developing fisheries among the CariCom states. The course is hosted my the Ministry of Agriculture and the Department of Fisheries in Suriname and was designed by Icelandic experts from University of Iceland and University of Akureyri and their colleagues from University of the West Indies in Trinidad and Tobago.

The topic of Value Chain in the fisheries has been identified by CRFM as one of the future main issues in the Caribbean fisheries to increase revenues from the limited marine resources. The project is funded by the UNU-FTP with a special contribution by the Icelandic government which has emphasized support to SIDs (small island development states) countries.

At the opening of the course, the Suriname Minster of Agriculture, Honorable Mr. Algoe, addressed the participants and organizers and  expressed the importance of increasing the awareness of the Value Chain in fisheries among all players. Mr. Milton Haughton, the CRFM executive director stated at the opening that the contribution of UNU-FTP has made a big impact and is currently the main partner of CRFM in building capacity of fisheries professionals and fisheries institutions in the region.

In the course, regional case studies are used to analyze strength and weaknesses of value chains.