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Greenhouses to be developed next year

- Hon. Pickering assures farmers have nothing to fear
The greenhouses are seen as one way of reducing the Territory’s importation bill. Photo: VINO
2. According to Hon. Pickering, the greenhouse technology will allow the VI to increase food production without requiring additional land space.
2. According to Hon. Pickering, the greenhouse technology will allow the VI to increase food production without requiring additional land space.
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – When the greenhouses, located at Paraquita Bay, are developed in the New Year it would take between 20 to 24 individuals to man them, revealed Minister for Natural Resources and Labour, Dr. Kedrick Pickering at the December 19, 2011 Second House of Assembly sitting.

And even though the greenhouses will become a reality, the Minister is assuring farmers that their source of revenue would not be affected. “Let me be abundantly clear that I am in no way condemning traditional farming. As a matter of fact, I would like to publically commend those farmers who are still using the traditional means of farming and to let them know that they have nothing to fear. Our traditional farmers will continue to play a critical role in food production in this Territory,” Hon. Pickering stated.

The greenhouse project is a brainchild of former Minister for Natural Resources and Labour Omar Hodge, who faced stiff opposition from farmers and several concerned residents, who had argued that the project would affect the livelihood of farmers.

In an interview earlier in the year, Hodge had pointed out that the Territory’s import bill for food was extremely high and stated that with mass production of several cash crops fresher produce would be available to the community.

This sentiment was echoed by the new Natural Resources Minister who stated that Agriculture like Fishing seems to have lost its importance to “our economy with the advent of tourism and financial services.”

“There has been much talk about the resurgence of this industry. The greenhouse technology may yet prove worthwhile and useful...[it] allows us to increase our food production without requiring additional land space. As I have always said Madam Speaker, if they can grow food in the desert in Israel, why can’t we use the same technology and grow food here? Statistics reveal that over 90 percent of the food consumed in the Virgin Islands is imported. The development of the greenhouses in the territory is very important if we are to move towards some measure of food security for this Territory,” he stated.

11 Responses to “Greenhouses to be developed next year ”

  • critic (20/12/2011, 07:27) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    same words from a different man's mouth
  • jost van dyke massive (20/12/2011, 07:51) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    but the NDP said during the campaign the green houses waz bad and a waste of $$$$$...so like everything else they change dem tune!
    • Double Trouble (20/12/2011, 09:31) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      Seem like yall fooly selves prefer yall tax dollars to waste eh....yes he might have made tha comment during campaigns but wha....he is in now, and probably realized that it has cost us way more than we thought, so best give it a try and see what we can make of it. All he is doing is making sure all that money that previous minister done waste of ours dont be further thrown away...not everything u meet after taking a seat u gah get rid of sometimes its best to find the best way out without further wasting our tax dollars. I never agreed to the green houses but since so much of my tax dollars done invested in it, to reach to that stage its at best finish it. cause if u remove them, tha's money down the drain and then wha.....more critics like u will talk and wonder why our tax dollars going to waste.
  • positive vision (20/12/2011, 07:57) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    we gone this fare with that project and it needs to be put to used ,so let get this piece of investment going and get some of these young guy of the street to help inproved there planting skill of growing food to eat and not staveing to rob.
  • Peng (20/12/2011, 08:57) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    I agree....from the outside looking in something you get a different picture, as the mney has already been invested in the infustruture lets do something with it. let give it a try and see how it works. We can certainly at least try to bring down the import bill for 2013. I would suggest a quick growing cop so that the yield time can be at least 3-6 month. at least we would be ble to keep the supermarkets supplied for 6months or so.
  • Crank Shaft (20/12/2011, 09:57) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    It IS still a waste of damn money but what you want them to do? Just like the Purcell Ghut they have NO CHOICe but to continue the nonsense because millions have already been spent. The difference here is NDP will have a PLAN before moving forward with this. It was obvious Omar and VIP had NO PLAN! They built it and left it there over a year. They should've brought one small greenhouse in the first instance, see how it works then expand as necessary. What do you expect Pickering to do? If he leaves them up there to rot, you all will say he waste our money, knowing full well is Omar and his blind government that did it. Now he wants to make use of it, you still talking fart! SCHUPS!
  • qqqq (20/12/2011, 11:13) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    so when are they going to announce the Omar Hodge is the consultant????
  • Macnamara (20/12/2011, 11:16) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    What is wrong with bringing in a trained agronomist who can teach some of the young people how to properly utilise the greenhouses and produce much needed fresh produce for the Islands? Surely this would be a great idea for the technical school so desparately needed.


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