FAO: Create environment for breadfruit, breadnut industry to thrive

By Andre Huie

Basseterre, St. Kitts: The enabling environment must be created for a breadfruit and breadnut industry to thrive in St. Kitts and Nevis. That was the view stressed by officials from the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) in a recent workshop held in St. Kitts to discuss strategies of developing a breadfruit and breadnut industry.

Heiko Bamman, Enterprise Development office of the FAO in Rome, speaking at the recent breadfruit and breadnut industry workshop at the Ocean Terrace Inn, stressed that the importance of making the industry profitable and to  grow income potentials. Meanwhile, Agro-industries officer of the FAO, Mr. Joseph Mpagalile spoke to participants on marketing their breadfruit and breadnut products including discussing the constraints and challenges.

Link: http://www.winnfm.com/news2.asp?NewsID=7886

Food Security Top Priority

Food Security Top Priority

 

Written by Loshaun DixonPosted On: Thursday, 15 December 2011Last Updated: Thursday, 15 December 2011

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Basseterre, St. Kitts-The achievement of food security in St. Kitts & Nevis is an important policy of the government, said The Prime Minister of the twin island nation, Dr. Denzil Douglas, during the recent presentation of the Federal Budget. 

Dr. Douglas said “The importance of achieving this goal is reinforced by the growing uncertainty in the global food market, which is characterized by successive episodes of natural disasters in the food producing regions of the world; increasing demands from expanding economies; increased use of biofuel technology and the associated upward pressure on prices.” 

Dr. Douglas outlined that it was just in October 2011, a report by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) estimated that thirty-two (32) countries around the world will be in need of assistance, as a result of crop failures, natural disasters and high domestic food prices.  “However, I can confidently say to this Honourable House that we will not be among the countries in need of such assistance,” Dr. Douglas said. 

“Since the closure of the Sugar Industry in 2005, my Government has made agriculture a priority in the development agenda, by identifying the sector as one of the pillars of transformation, which would not only ensure food security, but also facilitate employment and revenue generation.  Considerable investment has been made to facilitate the expansion of the sector, through increased integration of new farming techniques and technologies and the creation of linkages with other sectors in order to reduce cost and maximize benefits.  During 2012 we intend to build on these efforts by emphasizing small and commercial scale farming, infrastructure, appropriate technology and training,” Douglas added.

 He continued, “Small-scale and commercial farming have both been used as a means of expanding the sector as we strive to meet domestic demand and capitalize on export opportunities.  During 2010, three (3) farmers were identified for the establishment of commercial farms which involve the cultivation of fifty (50) acres each.  We have also encouraged group-farming or the cluster farm model which was initiated under the Agricultural Training Employment Programme.  This programme targets former sugar workers who are interested in making a transition from the Sugar Industry to non-sugar agriculture.  I am pleased to report that this initiative has been successful, facilitating the establishment of four group farms in the areas of Sir Gilles, Belmont, West Farm and Mansion. We are also focusing on supporting the development of niche markets in the agro-processing sub-sector as this area provides a unique opportunity to develop an additional form of income generation, particularly for women, a means of reducing wastage and a building block for small business development. The Basic Needs Trust Fund (BNTF) has collaborated with the Department of Cooperatives to provide training, equipment and product development support in this area.  Further capacity building will be sought in order to facilitate quality assurance and sustainability.” 

Prime Minister Douglas also said the livestock sub-sector is facing challenges such as praedial larceny, high mortality, the high cost of feed and poor husbandry practices. These problems resulted in a 3.8% decline in output in 2010. Several initiatives have been implemented and will continue into 2012 to reverse this outcome. They include the growing, harvesting and storage of forage for use during the dry season as part of a strategy to deal with the cost of imported feed which has caused some livestock farmers to cease production as profit margins continued to narrow.

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Timothy Harris in Discussions to Strengthen Agricultural Sector

 

Written by MiyVue.com Staff WriterPosted On: Wednesday, 07 December 2011

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(File Photo)

Basseterre, St. Kitts-Chairman of CARDI and Senior Minister in the Government of St. Kitts & Nevis, Dr. Timothy Harris recently concluded discussions with government officials in Trinidad & Tobago, exploring possible capacity building support from that country to St Kitts and Nevis.

 While in the twin-island republic, Dr. Harris, who is also the Minister responsible for Agriculture in St. Kitts, held bilateral talks with his counterpart, Vasant Bharath, Minister of Food Production, Land and Marine Affairs of Trinidad and Tobago.

Harris, who serves as the Chairman of the Board of Governors of CARDI was in the sister CARICOM State to fulfill a series of engagements on behalf of CARDI and his home government. 

In addition to meeting with Senator Vasant Bharath, he also was engaged in discussions with CARDI’s Executive Director, Dr Arlington Chesney, to discuss the financial situation of the premier agricultural research entity and to explore ways in which the government of Trinidad and Tobago can offer a financial respite. 

The meeting was described as productive.  Senator Bharat was supported in this meeting by Mrs. Edwina Leacock, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Food Production of Trinidad and Tobago and Yolande Agard Simmonds, Director of Communications in the Ministry of Food Production. 

Dr Harris was featured speaker at an Open Day event organized by CARDI under the theme “Improving Lives Through Agriculture Research”. 

The Open Day ceremony featured Dr Janet Lawrence, CARDI’s Representative, Trinidad and Tobago, Mr. Oliver Aqui, President of Trinidad and Tobago Greenhouse Operators Association, Stephanie Elder-Alexander, Deputy Permanent Secretary, and the Vote of Thanks was given by Alexander Benn, National Coordinator of CFC Projects. 

The programme also offered tours of exhibition and field activities.