G/STR/Q1/BRB/6  
 
12 October 2015  
(15-5321)  Page: 1/2  
Working Party on State Trading Enterprises  Original: English  
 
 STATE TRADING 
REPLIES TO QUESTIONS POSED BY THE UNITED STATES1 REGARDING THE BARBADOS 
AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT AND MARKETING CORPORATION (BADMC) 
The following communication, dated 10 October 2015, is being circulated at the request of the 
Delegation of Barbados.  
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  Barbados has identified the Barbados Ag ricultural Development and Marketing 
Corporation (BADMC) to the Working Party on State Trading Enterprises as a state 
trading enterprise.
2 According to Barbados, the BADMC has a legislative mandate, under 
the Barbados Agricultural Development and Marketing Act 1993-12, to ensure the 
development of the local agricultural sector  through innovative te chnical application, 
technical and marketing research, and to cr eate opportunities for investment that 
engenders enterprise, food security and prospe rity in the agricultural sector. The BADMC 
also provides farm support services to th e non-sugar agricultural sector, collects 
agricultural statistical data, and provides  irrigation services to small farmers. 
 With this in mind, the United States poses the following questions: 
 
Question 1  
What type of farm support services is the BADMC providing to the non-sugar agricultural 
sector? Specifically, what type of technical assistance, market research and investment 
programs are being provided by the BADMC? 
 
Reply 
 The mission of BADMC is to develop agriculture through innovative technological applications, 
technical and marketing research, and to create opportunities for investment that engenders 
enterprise, food security and prosperity in the ag ricultural sector. The farm services mentioned in 
the Notification under Section III A: Summary and overview of the operations of the BADMC, and 
which are provided to the entire non-agricultural sector, not only those products for which the 
BADMC has been designated as the State Trading Enterprise, are:  
Land-leasing to small and resource poor farmers; 
Cultivation services to small and resource poor farmers; Extension and research. 
 
In addition, the BADMC provides, where possible, an d where facilities exist, irrigation services, 
agricultural inputs and marketing for small and resource poor farmers.   
                                               
1 G/STR/Q1/BRB/5. 
2 See e.g. G/STR/N/11/BRB/Rev.1–G/STR/N/12/BRB/Rev.1 (dated 29 April 2013). G/STR/Q1/BRB/6 
 
- 2 - 
 
  Question 2 
 What measures has the BADMC undertaken to  develop the Barbados poultry sector to 
avoid reliance on non-market clearing pricin g schemes or reliance on trade management 
under its authority as sole importer of impo rtation of poultry for wholesale and retail 
sale?  
Reply 
 
The agricultural commodity markets of Barbados – including the poultry sector – are characterised by numerous independent buyers and sellers. The industry itself is involved in its own 
development, working through agencies such as the Barbados Egg and Poultry Association. In 
addition, the general services provided by the BADMC, such as extension services, also benefit the poultry sector.  
 
The use of price control on a limited number  of poultry products is designed to ensure that low 
income and economically disadvantaged persons have  access to an affordable source of protein. 
Apart from those limited products under price control, the re-sale of other poultry products is 
based on commercial considerations.   Question 3 
 
How does the BADMC finance its support prov ided to the agricultural community? What 
percentage of the BADMC operational budget  is derived through fees collected on 
issuance of import licenses for products under its purview?  
 Reply 
 The fees collected on the issuance of import lic enses are less than 1% of the Corporation's total 
income. Most of the support to the agricultural community is financed through other activities.  
 
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