Agriculture

Inventory and characterization of food systems on Bonaire

Summary

Increased production of fruits and vegetables may contribute to a better availability of healthy food and employment opportunities on Bonaire. Therefore, possibilities of plant production in the area of Rincon, Bonaire were mapped in this study. The study was based on literature research and online key-informant interviews, complemented with additional analyses. The literature review and the interviews were used to describe Bonaire’s food system and to do an analysis of Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) of several production systems. In addition, biophysical conditions were analyzed, and calculations were performed on the land and water requirements for several levels of agricultural production. Findings show that increasing year-round fruit and vegetable production in Rincon, and Bonaire in general, is challenging, and may not be possible without support. The main challenges include limited and irregular water availability, an unsupportive business environment, and harsh production circumstances characterized by pests, diseases and challenging weather conditions. Without sufficient support to increase water availability and local agricultural knowledge and to create a suitable business environment, both capital- intensive and small-scale crop production are unlikely to lead to better availability of healthy food and employment opportunities in Rincon. Support may take the form of increasing the availability and affordability of water, which would be beneficial for several target groups. Additional support that would be required, may differ for entrepreneurs, community gardens and individual home-gardens.

Date
2023
Data type
Research report
Theme
Research and monitoring
Geographic location
Bonaire

Implementing community urban agriculture in Bonaire

Abstract

 

Bonaire is a Caribbean Island that is part of the Dutch Kingdom. The island is currently facing serious challenges. One of the defined issues is the lack of local food production which leads to expensive fruit and vegetables in the supermarket. This results in unhealthy diets of the citizens which leads to 60% of overweighted inhabitants in Bonaire (Verweij et al., 2020). To fight this problem, the local government of Bonaire is starting agricultural projects such as community gardens. However, there is a need for examples and knowledge on how to set up successful agricultural projects. This information is currently missing in Bonaire, which makes providing guidance in such projects the main aim of this thesis.

To achieve this goal, I in my role as a researcher, became a member of an ongoing communal food initiative project in the agricultural department of Bonaire called “Nos mes por”. My integration into the community created a unique opportunity to gain real-world experiences by using participatory action research (PAR) as a methodology. In short, there are two objectives namely (1) implementing actions for “Nos mes por” (gaining action) while also (2) generating information for the process and product design of community gardens in Bonaire (gaining knowledge).

This research methodology in this dissertation is compiled by using interviews, observations, and focus groups as research methods. This study resulted in both real-world actions which are applied in “Nos mes por” and specific guidelines defined by the members of the community garden to make the project successful. Moreover, strategies to set up and design communal urban agriculture initiatives in Bonaire specifically and SIDS generally are developed. However, future research in Bonaire and SIDS should test the guidelines to see how they work in practice

Date
2023
Data type
Research report
Theme
Education and outreach
Research and monitoring
Geographic location
Bonaire

The state of cactus fences and kunukus for nature inclusivity on the island of Bonaire

Agriculture on Bonaire does not support the demand for food on the island, and therefore the people are dependent on expensive food importation. Recently, any Bonairean people abandon their kunukus to take jobs in the urban area in tourism or off-island in the oil industry. Traditionally, a kunuku was used as an agricultural plot for food production for the household. A kunuku would usually have a cactus fence used to contain grazing goats or chickens, or to produce household amounts of sorghum maize, and keep animals out. In order to help restore nature to Bonaire and include it in the daily lives of people, restoration and use of cactus fences on kunukus are being considered as nature inclusive measure. In order to get a better understanding of the current use of kunukus and presence of cactus fences on the island, satellite information and field observations were collected about the state of kunukus and the use of cactus fences. Results show that kunukus are rapidly being abandoned. The predictive accuracy from satellite imagery of active kunukus was high (92.5%). Furthermore, only 4% of the active kunukus have a well-maintained cactus fence. Implications of these findings are discussed with focus on nature inclusiveness and the use of the kunuku as a means to restore a cultural pride, self-sufficiency, local economic diversification and a healthier food culture on Bonaire.

Date
2022
Data type
Research report
Theme
Research and monitoring
Report number
3150
Geographic location
Bonaire
Image

Land capability classification for Bonaire 1956

Land capability for growing agicultural crops, husbandry and forestry for Bonaire. Based on fieldwork from the 1950s.

The zones are digitized from the hardcopy (paper) land capabilities map .

Date
2021
Data type
Maps and Charts
Theme
Research and monitoring
Geographic location
Bonaire
Image

Aloe and sorghum plots of Bonaire in 1956

Histiorical agrilcultural use differentiating aloe and sorghum fields on Bonaire (1950's).

The fields are digitized from the paper land capabilities map

Date
2021
Data type
Maps and Charts
Theme
Research and monitoring
Geographic location
Bonaire
Author
Image

Ontwikkelingsmogelijkheden voor de agrarische sector in Caribisch Nederland

De huidige voedselproductie op de eilanden Bonaire, Sint Eustatius en Saba is beperkt. Zowel de overheid als de lokale bevolking hebben de afgelopen jaren initiatieven genomen om de voedselproductie te verhogen. Deze studie trekt daar lering uit en komt met concrete aanbevelingen voor zowel het beleid als de sector (land- en tuinbouw, veeteelt en visserij). Centraal staan, voor elk van de drie eilanden, vier op te stellen plannen: een integraal zoetwaterplan, een agrarisch ontwikkelplan, een visserijontwikkelplan en een agrarisch onderwijsplan. Dit onderwijsplan moet leiden tot een grotere interesse voor lokale voedselproductie bij jongeren en dient zich te richten op kennis en vaardigheden ten behoeve van zowel duurzame innovatieve intensivering van productiesystemen als professionele voedselproductie in combinatie met nevenactiviteiten met betrekking tot toerisme of zorg.

Trefwoorden: Caribisch Nederland, duurzame voedselproductie, zoetwaterplan, agrarisch ontwikkelplan, visserijontwikkelplan, agrarisch onderwijsplan.

Date
2020
Data type
Research report
Theme
Governance
Report number
WPR-1026
Geographic location
Bonaire
Saba
St. Eustatius

Developing sustainable agriculture on St.Eustatius

The aim of the paper is to elaborate how St. Eustatius can develop its agricultural sector in an environmentally sustainable way, while simultaneously improving the livelihoods of St. Eustatius’ population. For theoretical grounding, the FAO framework of Sustainable Food Value Chain (SFVC) is applied to structure the qualitative research. By conducting semi-structured interviews with stakeholders and experts and utilizing a literature review, various issues in the environmental, social and economic dimension of the island's agricultural system are revealed. Core problems are the marginal food production on St. Eustatius, little marketing and non-existent value-adding. Moreover, unhealthy food patterns, soil issues, irrigational problems, a lack of educational opportunities and governmental challenges are disclosed.
Though, dependence on food imports is exacerbated, food prices are high and the quality of fresh produce is often poor. By the further application of the SFVC, crucial points of interference in the island’s agricultural system are examined to shape a pathway towards a sustainable agricultural sector on St. Eustatius. These points are water availability, use of agricultural land, horizontal and vertical integration of actors, education on all levels, the attitude towards farming and the small local market. In the case of their implementation, synergies and spillover effects arising from those intervention points are expected that obtain the potential to renovate further issues eventually.

Date
2020
Data type
Research report
Theme
Research and monitoring
Geographic location
St. Eustatius
Image

Agricultural fields (Kunuku) Bonaire

Agricultural fields of Bonaire based on visual interpretation of satelite imagery of 2019 and 2003 using Google Earth. Fields have been interpreted as being 'in use' when borders could be distinguished between field and neighbouring area and that fields were barren in contrast to the borders and/or neighbouring area. Mind: This data is not (yet) validated with field observations or expert judgement.

The following classes are used:

  • [red] Fields that are in agricultural use in 2003, but no longer in 2019 (presumably abandoned, or given a new function like urbanization)
  • [yellow] Fields that are both in agricultural use in 2003 and in 2019 
  • [grey] Fields that still have recognizable borders in 2003, but don't seem to be used in 2003. Probably abandoned before 2003. This class has only been digitized for the Rincon area
Date
2020
Data type
Maps and Charts
Theme
Research and monitoring
Geographic location
Bonaire
Image

Beleidsvisie landbouw, veeteelt en visserij Bonaire 2014-2029

In de economie van Bonaire neemt de agrarische sector een bescheiden plaats in. Naar schatting is minder dan 1% van de economisch actieve bevolking full time werkzaam in de sectoren landbouw, veeteelt en visserij. Er zijn twee fulltime boeren en naar schatting 20 full time vissers.
Desalniettemin heeft landbouw, veeteelt en visserij een sociaaleconomische functie voor veel mensen. Inkomsten uit landbouw, veeteelt en visserij zijn een aanvulling op het salaris of pensioen.
De huidige landbouw, veeteelt en visserij wordt op een extensieve wijze beoefend. De investeringen en de opbrengsten zijn laag.
De lokale landbouw voorziet in een klein deel aan de behoefte van de markt op het gebied van groenten en fruit. De veeteelt voorziet in eieren en geiten- en schapenvlees. Alleen voor eieren is Bonaire zelfvoorzienend. De visserij is voornamelijk seizoensgebonden en voorziet de lokale markt. Er wordt ook vis geïmporteerd.
De loslopende geiten, schapen, varkens en ezels brengen ook economische schade toe aan Bonaire.

  • Schade aan de natuur en milieu door overbegrazing, met erosie en sedimentatie en vervuiling van het koraalrif tot gevolg
  • Schade voor bedrijven en particulieren, die moeten investeren in het bouwen van hekken en omheiningen rond erven en percelen.
  • Gevaarlijke situaties in het verkeer.

Het op korte termijn beschikbaar komende gezuiverde afvalwater en het rond de Dienst LVV beschikbare terrein bieden echter kansen voor geïrrigeerde land- en tuinbouw op een voor Bonaire ongekende schaal. Hierdoor wordt ook duurzame veeteelt mogelijk.
Deze Beleidsvisie biedt kansen voor de economie, zoals duurzame en multifunctionele landbouw, veeteelt en visserij en een leefbaar en aantrekkelijk platteland. Door deze kansen komen er nieuwe investeringsmogelijkheden voor het bedrijfsleven.

Date
2014
Data type
Other resources
Theme
Governance
Geographic location
Bonaire