Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, Recommendation for Jamaica par. 26 (2013)

Text of the recommendation

26. The Committee takes note of the difficulties faced by the State party to guarantee the right to adequate food by way of local production due to the frequency of natural hazards, inefficient farming practices, lack of suitable land, and increases in commodity prices. While noting the importance of food importation to meet the dietary needs of the population, the Committee is concerned at the information provided by the State party that exposure to cheaper imports based on new trading agreements has led to the displacement of local farmers (art. 11).

The Committee recommends that the State party adopt effective long-term strategies aimed at improving domestic productivity in a sustainable manner and building the capacity of local farmers, taking into account the Committee’s general comment N o. 12 (1999) on the right to adequate food. It also reminds the State party to assess the adverse impact of any trade agreements on the enjoyment of economic, social and cultural rights of the population, and provide detailed information in its next State party report concerning trade agreements entered by the State party and their impact on the enjoyment of economic, social and cultural rights, particularly among local farmers.