Department of agriculture cultivates perennial fruit trees

Roadtown, Tortola - The Department of Agriculture continues to take steps towards greater food-sufficiency and sustainability.

On May 26 staff members from the plant quarantine and crop production units of the Department of Agriculture planted 13 assorted fruit trees on the hillside adjacent to the Department’s Paraquita Bay offices.  The trees consisted of six sugar apples, two custard apples and five carambolas commonly known as five fingers or star apple trees.

Deputy Chief Agricultural Officer Mrs. Arona Fahie-Forbes explained the reason why the Department has embarked on this project.

“We want to establish a fruit orchard of different local fruit trees that are adaptable and currently performing well in the BVI.  The long term intent is to obtain seedlings and scion material essential for grafting and future crop production,” Mrs Fahie Forbes told the Department of Information and Public Relations.

The Department of Agriculture also intends that the site serves as a means of promoting the correct way to plant and grow fruit trees on the hillside as opposed to ornamental trees being used primarily for landscaping.

The Deputy Chief Agricultural Officer further highlighted the benefits of planting trees, specifically what fruit trees can contribute to the environment.

“There are several benefits of growing fruit trees.  Trees stabilise the soil, capture carbon dioxide, release oxygen in the air, serve as a wind breaker for smaller trees facing hurricane force winds, provide shade from the sun, prevent soil erosion, protect our coastline as well as ultimately produce fruit for food,” Mrs. Fahie-Forbes added.

This is the second time for the year that the department has embarked on this initiative.  In April the department planted 20 assorted mango trees and four sapodilla trees in the same location.

The Department of Agriculture under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Labour seeks to enhance the agricultural development within the Territory while promoting sustainable agricultural production.
 
The Department aims to promote crop production to the farming community and the public while protecting the borders from the entry of exotic or invasive pests and diseases.