In this era of global uncertainty, one the most important steps that any government can take is to encourage local food production and consumption. The annual Eat Local Day, to be hosted by the Department of Agriculture on June 24 at Independence Square, certainly qualifies.

It is incumbent upon governments all around the world contemplate in depth what would occur in a ‘doomsday’ scenario if food imports suddenly became severely limited in availability, and domestic production had to be relied upon much more heavily, if not entirely. Unfortunately, some countries are already embroiled in such a situation and know first-hand what the experience is like.

There is a country located right in this region that has endured such a scenario, and their response to the crisis has been instructive for many around the globe. In 1990 Cuba’s main supporter – the Soviet Union – was in the midst of collapsing as a national entity, cutting the island’s oil imports by 50 percent and their food imports by 80 percent. Cuban leadership had no illusions about the lost supplies being replaced by the powerful country situated to its north, due to the longstanding U.S. embargo.

Faced with the very real prospect of a complete national implosion and widespread starvation, Cubans worked quickly to institute an organic urban farming system with the ultimate goal of removing any reliance on oil-based machinery, fertilizers, or long-distance imports.

After some very hard years, the plan worked, completely transforming the country’s methods of food production, delivery, and consumption. According to published reports, by 2002, a little over a decade, Cuba was producing approximately 3.2 million tons of food in urban farms and gardens. In the eyes of many, the country has become a model for sustainable agriculture and local food production.

Political considerations aside, the enormity of the accomplishment has to be given its just due. Could St. Kitts and Nevis respond in such an expeditious manner if faced with a similar crisis? Hopefully, that question will never have to be answered, but it is extremely pertinent, given today’s global climate of constant calamity.

All around the world there are examples of governments that, for various reasons, have not been able to provide a measure of domestic food sufficiency for their citizens. Currently, international aid agencies are reporting that as many as 10 million West Africans face starvation due to devastating drought conditions in that region.

Niger, ranked as one of the least developed countries in the world, is confronted with a truly dire situation in which nearly half of its population - more than 7 million people - is negatively affected by food insecurity.

In short, taking steps to become as ‘food-sufficient’ as possible is in the best interest of any nation. Hopefully, many within the Federation will take that underlying message very seriously during Eat Local Day.