KINGSTON, Jamaica — Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Karl Samuda has welcomed the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO’s) focus on climate change, agriculture and food security at its 40th Session of the FAO Conference now underway in Rome, Italy.

Samuda, who was delivering an address at the conference in Rome on Wednesday, said it is important that the organisation continues to pursue climate change adaptation strategies for agriculture.

He noted that small island developing states, such as Jamaica, continue to be hit with prolonged droughts, frequent intense rainfall, flooding and hurricanes.

“For Jamaica climate change is not a fiction, but a reality we live with daily,” said Samuda.

He told the assembly that Jamaica is moving to build resilience by intensifying efforts to establish agricultural insurance schemes and implementing drought resistant measures such as water harvesting and storage.

He said the government is moving to expand areas with access to irrigation as currently only 12,500 hectares of the approximately 187,800 irrigable hectares of land in Jamaica is irrigated.

“Furthermore, we are incorporating climate change adaptation strategies and methods in every aspect of agricultural planning and production,” said Samuda.

Samuda also acknowledged the role of the conference in shaping a global agenda for agriculture aligned with sustainable development goals set in Agenda 2030 and restated Jamaica’s commitment to these goals and the work of the FAO.

“As a matter of strategic policy, in Jamaica, the portfolios of Agriculture and Fisheries are combined with those of Industry and Commerce in order to move the sector further along the value chain and foster greater agro-industrial growth,” the minister said.

Curacao vow to kick up storm in Gold Cup

CARACAS, Venezuela (AFP) — Trained by Dutch coaches and with players seasoned in the English leagues, the Caribbean island of Curacao takes a giant competitive leap in international football this month.

The national team will compete for the first time in the CONCACAF Gold Cup, the top international tournament for North and Central America and the Caribbean.

Their rise is attributed largely to Dutch former Ajax, Barcelona and Newcastle United striker Patrick Kluivert — son of a Curacao woman — who coached the island’s national side from 2015 to 2016.

The autonomous Dutch territory of 158,000 inhabitants has since surged in the FIFA world rankings from 150th place to 70th — ahead of Gold Cup opponents such as Canada, El Salvador and Jamaica.

Kluivert’s assistant Remko Bicentini took over in September as coach of the squad, made up largely of Dutch nationals with family ties to the island.

Their captain, right-back Rhuendly ‘Cuco’ Martina, 27, played for English side Southampton until this year and has been linked with a possible move to Everton.

Midfielder Leandro Bacuna, 25, plays for Aston Villa.

Under Bicentini, they beat defending champions Jamaica 2-1 on June 25 to win Curacao’s first ever international title, the Caribbean Cup.

“This means the world to me, my family, my teammates and all of Curacao,” said goalkeeper Eloy Room in an interview published by CONCACAF after the win.

“My mother is Dutch but my father was born in Curacao.”

Strikers Gino van Kessel and Felitciano Zcchusschen scored seven goals each in the tournament. Elson Hooi scored both Curacao’s goals in the final.

The Gold Cup kicks off on July 7 in the United States with French Guiana taking on Canada.

Curacao play their first game of the tournament on July 9 — against Jamaica.

“I think reaching the quarter finals is a realistic goal,” said Room.