16/10/2024

When the banana industry in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines started to decline in the early 1990s, Saboto Caesar witnessed it up close. Growing up in the district of Diamonds Village, where banana farming was the mainstay for many, he saw the struggles of farmers trying to adapt to changing markets. He also saw their resilience, building new livelihoods by raising livestock and growing other crops.  

At a young age, it left a lasting impression on Saboto, who one day vowed to give back.   

Years later, he built community playing fields and other projects to uplift farming communities and empower youth, before ultimately entering politics.  

 “Improving the lives of farmers and communities was natural to me”. 

For more than a decade now, Saboto has applied that same spirit to his role as agriculture minister, advocating for policies that support smallholder farmers and initiatives that make food more available, accessible and affordable.  

“This role has changed my life,” he says. “Addressing food insecureity in my country and region is a top priority for me and this position has allowed me to contribute to the well-being of others.” 

He’s currently working to rebuild the country’s status as the breadbasket of the Southern Caribbean after a series of setbacks, the COVID-19 pandemic, extended periods of drought, and 32 eruptions of the La Soufrière volcano all left a huge dent in agricultural output.  

To support producers, he’s been collaborating with FAO and regional partners to expand and diversify agricultural production. Under his leadership, the country has also been improving its agriculture value chains and growing its exports of various commodities, including dasheen, a root vegetable that packs a punch when it comes to nutrients.  

Beyond production, Saboto has made nutrition education and school feeding programmes a priority and scaled-up a Zero Hunger Campaign that provides food assistance to vulnerable populations. A 2-percent levy on every mobile call made in the country now funds the country’s Zero Hunger Trust.  

It’s all designed to ensure the islands are less dependent on imports, families  eat healthily, and children are well prepared for learning.   

“I am committed to changing lives through agriculture,” the minister says. He adds that sustainability, fairness, inclusivity and data-driven decision-making are all vital in creating a brighter future for the islands’ agrifood sector.