Released on: July 5, 2008, 7:34 am

Press Release Author: Caribbean Land and Property

Industry: Real Estate

Press Release Summary: Agricultural land is the latest prime investment in the
Caribbean

Press Release Body: Caribbean heads of government recently met in a two-day regional
Agricultural Investment Forum to discuss the rising cost of food and the crisis it
presents the region. It was stressed that government interventions need support from
the private sector and Caribbean Land and Property, who have a range of farm and
agricultural lands for sale in the region are offering increased services to support
clients with investment in agriculture.

"We want to do everything we can to promote sustainable land use in the region" says
Stewart Andrews, Managing Director of the company. He adds that at present "many
land owners do not want to advertise their land as agricultural as they perceive
that the value could be less. Rather they market it as potential for resorts, but I
think we will see this shifting as more awareness grows that food security and food
production is going to be a major priority in years to come."

Indeed, elsewhere in the world prices for agricultural land have skyrocketed in
recent years. In 2007, the price for farmland in Iowa, USA was, for the first time,
rising faster than property in Manhattan. This trend, which is continuing from
Argentina to Australia, is signaling an increase in rural rather than urban
development.

James Moss-Solomon, a Jamaican businessman who headed the planning task force for
the forum said "there has been no other time in recent Caribbean memory when such a
concerted effort has been made to grow more food." As the region pours more
resources into growing more food the future looks bright for agricultural
investments in the fertile land of the Caribbean.

The focus of agricultural investment is diverse and can include small to large scale
agriculture, agro-processing and even ecotourism developments. Small scale ecolodges
that produce most of their food on site can be a great educative tool for the local
and visiting community on the importance of sustainable agriculture and are an
integral part of the thrust to sustainable development. One of the key results of
the recent regional forum is that commercial banks are more willing to support these
investments than they may have done in the past.

In recognising that many buyers plan to develop agricultural land especially for
niche organic markets overseas, Caribbean Land and Property now have a consultant in
Organic agriculture available to their clients. Al-Mario Casimir, who has a M.Sc.
in Agricultural Diversification with emphasis on Organic Agriculture and over 10
years experience in working with Caribbean agricultural departments, is now offering
his services on a freelance basis to clients who desire to protect their investment
with wise decisions based on inside knowledge and real agricultural experience.
Based in Dominica, Casimir consults for clients throughout the Eastern Caribbean and
in addition to his native English and French Creole, also speaks fluent Spanish.

Wini Dean, international property adviser for Caribbean Land and Property advises
that "Some of the favourite places for agriculture include Belize, Costa Rica,
Dominica and Dominican Republic. "We currently have some beautiful farms available,
many with already established crops and trees that represent a sound investment for
further cultivation."

Those looking for smaller scale personal investments are also finding the region a
hot spot. Lisette Stevens, property adviser for Caribbean Land and Property in
Dominica adds that "People are attracted to certain islands in the Caribbean as even
on small pieces of land they can be virtually self sufficient which, is a big
priority for people these days."

So in the face of some major challenges in global food production, there are many
possibilities for positive outcomes. From small personal holdings to large farms the
Caribbean region is alive with a new wave of investment in agriculture.


Web Site: http://www.caribbeanlandandproperty.com

Contact Details: www.caribbeanlandandproperty.com
+1 767 449 0599
c/o Design Management Limited, PO 1789, Roseau, Commonwealth of Dominica
terri@caribbeanlandandproperty.com