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Press Release From Independent Source

Government pledges to move Agriculture forward

Minister for Education, Culture, Youth Affairs, Fisheries and Agriculture, Dr the Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley (R7), left, meets with Acting Director of the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Mr Theodore E. James. Photo: Department of Information & Public Affairs
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- Minister for Education, Culture, Youth Affairs, Fisheries and Agriculture, Dr the Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) has said initiatives including building a market, improving land space usage and providing water to farmers are on the front burner to enable a thriving agriculture industry in the Virgin Islands.

Dr Wheatley was at the time meeting with the staff of the newly renamed Department of Agriculture and Fisheries to get an assessment of the current state of the sector.

Honourable Wheatley said every effort will be made to ensure the department excels. “Agriculture is going to be moving forward and we have been putting the structures and elements in place to ensure that it happens,” he said, adding “There are also some other initiatives that we are going to do to make sure that we have a thriving agricultural industry.”

The minister expressed his gratitude to the staff and leadership team for their support and further encouraged them to continue to give of their time and expertise to policy creation to achieve advances in the department and the sector.

Honourable Wheatley assured the staff that they will be fully engaged in the work to improve the agricultural sector and extended an invitation for their suggestions on ways in which the ministry can help improve its services and standards.

The department is now headed by Acting Director, Mr Theodore E. James who thanked the minister for his support and meeting with his staff.

Mr James added, “We recognise you have a vision and you too have high standards. With this, we will come together with the farmers and fisherfolk to chart the journey together in bettering the fisheries and agricultural sector.”

The Department of Agriculture and Fisheries aims to ensure that food is safe, nutritionally sound, produced and harvested in an environmentally sustainable manner that builds resilience to internal and external shocks while contributing to economic growth, social well-being and protection of the natural environment.

4 Responses to “Government pledges to move Agriculture forward”

  • E. Leonard (26/07/2019, 21:15) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    Can agriculture become the third economic pillar? Several decades ago the VI was relatively self sufficient in food production and had enough surplus to export to the neighboring USVI. Up to the mid 60s, the VI primary economy was subsistence agriculture, fishing........etc. However, starting in the mid 60s there was a transformation in the economy from subsistence agriculture to a service base economy——tourism and financial services. An increasing population from approx 8K-10K to approx 32K-36K today increased the demand the food. However, the increasing population, increasing demand for food, coupled with conversion of arable land to other uses( ie housing), reduction in agricultural production(older farmers retiring and next generation not engaging in agriculture at the same level).....etc required the BVI to import much of its food. Nonetheless, though becoming self sufficient in food production will be challenging, every effort should be exerted to increase local food production to the maximum extent practical. Increasing local food production will 1) enhance food security, 2)reduce the food import bill, 3) provide higher quality and fresher food, and 4)keep spending local and creating a multiplier effect in the economy.
  • Diaspora (26/07/2019, 22:43) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply
    If government is really serious about promoting agriculture, it needs to move agriculture and fishery from the MEC. This move has nothing to do with the competence of Dr. Natalio “Sowande Uhuru” Wheatley (D-7). The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sport, Youth Affairs, Agriculture and Fishery. This ministry is a mouthful and is top heavy. Education and Culture is a heavy lift and requires the full attention of the ministry. Agriculture and Fishery is better suited under the Ministry of Natural Resources, Immigration and Labour.
  • Quiet Warrior (27/07/2019, 08:11) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    Successive governments have only provided lip service on agriculture. They kicked it around conveniently as a political football. Stop kicking the can down the road; the road has ended. It is time for action. Let’s talk the talk and walk the walk. The MEC needs to develop a policy on agriculture and fishery. Then developed plans, programmes, processes, procedures.........etc. Appoint an adhoc blue ribbon committee to review and make recommendations on agriculture. However, the committee’s recommendations must become more than book ends on shelves in offices or save as clutter on computers. Let’s move things off of top dead center. Let’s keep it real, for developing agriculture is not going to be a walk in the park on a cool day. There are many challenges ahead: limited arable land acreage, water availability, import competition, motivating millennials, centennials......etc to engage in farming, Central market, equipment, transportation, working capital, feed, fertilizer, education and training, fair and reasonable pricing, labour.
  • Xxx (27/07/2019, 19:17) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Kedrick killed agricultural it’s hard to wake up


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