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Minister of Agriculture - Dr. Timothy Harris
Photo By Erasmus Williams

Basseterre, St. Kitts - Nevis
March 04, 2010 (CUOPM)

Newly-appointed Senior Minister and Minister of Agriculture, Dr. the Hon. Timothy Harris will outline plans and programmes for increasing food production and articulate a role for agriculture in the stability and transformation of the economy of St. Kitts and Nevis.

The Senior Minister is no stranger to the agricultural sector, having served as the Minister of Agriculture, Lands and Housing in the First Labour Party Labour administration that served over the period 1995-2000.

A release from the Ministry of Agriculture said that Dr. Harris spearheaded the revitalisation of the livestock sector which was then suffering from a tropical bont tick disease.

He began the decentralization of agricultural support services to rural communities and established Outreach Centres at Tabernacle and Fahies.   Tabernacle and Con Phipps were designated for Livestock Development Centres and long term leasehold agreements for farmers were pursued.

“Dr. Harris pursued cooperation with stakeholders and presided over the launch of what was to become an Annual Celebration of Agriculture Day and recognition of farmers,” said the statement.

It said that the Director of Agriculture, Mr Ashton Stanley will provide an overview of the performance of the agricultural sector for 2009 and the expected outcomes for 2010.  Programme leaders are also expected to make a presentation.

Agriculture stakeholders including CARDI, IICA, the Republic of China on Taiwan, and the Embassy of Venezuela, are expected to be represented at the opening session.

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4. Nevis Agriculture Minister Speaks Out To Producers
5. Nevis Agriculture Minister Shares His Vision For 2009

Locally Grown Fruits and Vegetables For Sale
Photo By Erasmus Williams

Basseterre, St. Kitts - Nevis
November 06, 2009 (CUOPM)

St. Kitts is reporting significant increases in some food crops.

Minister of Agriculture, Hon. Cedric Liburd in reiterating government’s policy to secure food for self-sufficiency and work towards sustainable development throughout the year reported a 115 percent increase in carrot production with 378,400 pounds in 2008 compared to 176,000 pounds in 2007. Onions increased from 48,400 pound in 2007 to 112,200 pounds in 2008, up 131 percent.

White potato production jumped 190 percent in 2008, with farmers producing 525,800 pounds compared to 277,200 pounds in 2007.

Pineapple production moved from 132,000 pounds in 2007 to 251,800 pounds in 2008, up 16 percent, Yam production moved up from 33,000 pounds in 2007 to 39,600 pounds in 2008, up 20 percent, while sweet potato production moved slightly from 423,940 pounds in 2007 to 433,400 pounds in 2008.

The passage of Hurricane Omar in the third quarter and flooding in the last quarter of 2008 adversely affected vegetable production resulting in a decrease in the production of cabbage, (24 percent), sweet pepper (15 percent); tomato (17 percent); peanut (50 percent) and watermelon, 36 percent).

The increase in production could be attributed to improved agronomic practices, thus resulting in increased yield and farmers cultivating large acreages as a result of some of the former sugar lands being made available for crop production.

Beef production during 2008 increased by 19.5 percent from 190,000 pounds in 2007 to 237,000 pounds in 2008.

The rise in production was due mainly by increased purchases by supermarkets where local beef was available at a competitive price and the efforts to remove the animals from the South East Peninsula.

Related posts:

1. St. Kitts - Nevis Crop Production Up In 2008
2. St. Kitts - Nevis Reports Increase In Food Production
3. More Land For St. Kitts - Nevis Farmers
4. St. Kitts - Nevis Food Production Up
5. St. Kitts - Nevis Hotels Encouraged To Buy Local

Nevis Farmers Speak With Agricultural Represenatives

Basseterre, St.Kitts - Nevis
People’s Action Movement
November 4, 2009

The Peoples Action Movement shadow Minister of Agriculture, Eugene Hamilton is of the firm view that expanding the local agriculture market for produce will aid significantly in maintaining farmers survival.

Hamilton noted that expanding the market was the ultimate objective of a PAM administration. Hamilton pointed out that his party intends to create and establish various avenues and platforms so as to ensure that adequate supportive services are created for farmers to tap into the export market.

He noted that when elected his party will seek various forums in an effort to persuade potential buyers to “come in and work with farmers within the federation so as to aid the situation.”  The PAM shadow minister spoke about the urgent need for an aggressive export drive will significantly be the ultimate solution for farmers’ economic survival.

Hamilton recollected when his party was once in office noting that the agriculture sector was booming and stood firmly due to the investments and opportunities that were created.

He pointed out that hadn’t the PAM administration created certain infrastructural projects, agriculture would have been non existent today. He however noted the importance of adding the necessary services for stakeholders to tap into the market.

He however stopped short of identifying a number of initiatives that his party has in place that they intend to implement when they take office. “I will not reveal everything as it is important that I keep something’s under cover for the appropriate time,” he said.

He stressed that with a Peoples Action Movement administration farers will not suffer noting that his party understands clearly the important role of agriculture and intends to adequately invest the required resources thus ensuring that there is food security within the federation.

Related posts:

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3. IICA Committed To Nevis’ Agricultural Development
4. Nevis Premier Asks For More Locally Grown Produce
5. PAM Deputy Leader Hamilton Notes Importance of Agriculture