[{"bbox": [85, 151, 1145, 237], "category": "Text", "text": "(natural disease and pest control, natural soil fertility, good soil structure); limit the impact on soil, water, air and other natural resources by the closing of cycles; landscape elements are maintained or created to provide habitats and green infrastructure for species of flora and fauna."}, {"bbox": [85, 253, 1145, 425], "category": "Text", "text": "Besides, Sint Eustatius will be eligible for the InvestEU Programme⁹ on a competitive basis, which aims to kick-start the European economy through the provision of crucial support, notably guarantees, to the Union's medium- and long-term policy priorities. It will be needed to further reflect on how InvestEU could complement this Action on sustainable agriculture, which will reinforce the enabling conditions for investments in the agriculture sector, notably by creating a conducive environment for investments. It should be noted, however, that Dutch OCTs require approval from the Dutch central government to enter into loan agreements."}, {"bbox": [85, 446, 342, 478], "category": "Section-header", "text": "## 2.2 Problem Analysis"}, {"bbox": [97, 490, 1149, 569], "category": "Text", "text": "The overriding problem is that the low volume of food crops produced locally is insufficient to meet market demand and this is at the base of the heavy dependency on expensive imports of food. The specific problems this Action seeks to address are summarised as follows:"}, {"bbox": [97, 571, 1149, 651], "category": "List-item", "text": "* Weak institutional capacity of local government for agriculture sector development: weak policy and regulatory framework; weaknesses in enforcement and lack of expertise. Furthermore, weak capacity for the provision of knowledge and services to the farming sector. Weak mainstreaming of gender approaches in policies."}, {"bbox": [97, 650, 1149, 704], "category": "List-item", "text": "* Poorly developed market for local food products: absence of effective communication between market operators (retailers and hospitality industry) and producers; poor matching of supply and demand."}, {"bbox": [97, 703, 1149, 810], "category": "List-item", "text": "* Weak private sector capacities for sustainable food production: negative mind-set and low esteem for working in agriculture, based on the colonial experience; poor knowledge of and skills for innovative farming methods; poor awareness of possibilities and opportunities; weak participation of women and youths; weak market information and access; non-availability of funds for financing investment opportunities in agriculture."}, {"bbox": [97, 809, 1149, 890], "category": "List-item", "text": "* Inadequate and inconsistent water availability for agriculture: climate change induced changes in rainfall patterns; longer periods of drought, despite adequate overall rainfall, result in temporary water deficits for agriculture; weak water resources management;"}, {"bbox": [97, 889, 973, 916], "category": "List-item", "text": "* Lack of centralised market, storage and production infrastructure for the agricultural sector;"}, {"bbox": [97, 915, 1149, 1155], "category": "List-item", "text": "* Biodiversity loss: large numbers of free-roaming animals that cause land degradation, soil erosion and rainwater runoff, with negative impact on biodiversity, both in terrestrial and marine environments. Coral reefs are particularly threatened. Beyond their essential role in the ecosystem, they provide a key contribution to the income generated from the tourism industry on the islands. It is estimated that 60% of Sint Eustatius' tourists come for diving. Investing in a professional livestock industry (including functioning slaughterhouses), fencing-in livestock, and removing all feral and free roaming grazers will allow for the vegetation to be restored, thereby stabilizing the soil and increasing its water retention capacity. These activities are currently being addressed through various projects. It is foreseen in the NEPP that by 2024 the slaughterhouses will have sufficient capacity and that all active livestock farms are fenced."}, {"bbox": [97, 1156, 235, 1180], "category": "Section-header", "text": "**Stakeholders:**"}, {"bbox": [97, 1181, 1149, 1235], "category": "Text", "text": "Identification of main stakeholders and corresponding institutional and/or organisational issues (mandates, potential roles, and capacities) to be covered by the Action:"}, {"bbox": [97, 1235, 1149, 1396], "category": "List-item", "text": "* Main implementing partner: Directorate Economy, Nature and Infrastructure of the Public Entity of Sint Eustatius (Agriculture Desk; Public works/spatial planning; and Permits/Domains); mandated to plan and manage implementation of actions for environmental and natural resource management, sustainable agriculture and managing water supply shortfalls; highly motivated leadership, but serious institutional and human resource capacity constraints. The Public Affairs and Management Support Directorate (including finance) and the Society and Welfare Directorate (gender and youths) have implementation support and monitoring roles."}, {"bbox": [97, 1395, 1149, 1529], "category": "List-item", "text": "* Non-resident government stakeholders: Ministry of Agriculture, Nature & Food Quality; Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management, part of Bonaire-based Rijksdienst Caribbean Netherlands (RCN); 'owners' of the Nature and Environment Policy Plan Caribbean Netherlands; coordination, implementation support and finance for the implementation of the NEPP, including for sustainable use of land and water and development of sustainable local food production."}, {"bbox": [97, 1528, 391, 1557], "category": "List-item", "text": "* Civil society stakeholders:"}, {"bbox": [85, 1620, 410, 1647], "category": "Footnote", "text": "⁹ https://investeu.europa.eu/index_en"}, {"bbox": [1037, 1656, 1145, 1683], "category": "Page-footer", "text": "Page 7 of 24"}]