St. Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister, Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas, Farmer, Mr. Keithley Armstrong, Minister of Agiriculture, Hon. Cedric Liburd and Director of Agriculture, Dr. Jerome Thomas.

Speaking at the end of a visit on Thursday to several local farms in pig, sheep, goat, onion, white potato and exotic fruits production, Prime Minister Douglas said with the closure of the sugar industry, several acres of land have already been freed up to provide employment for some of those made redundant resulting in an increase in the availability of fruits and vegetables for the local and export market.

Prime Minister Douglas, who was accompanied by Minister of Agriculture, Hon.

Cedric Liburd, Director of Agriculture, Dr. Jerome Thomas and crop and livestock officers visited the farms of Aaron Hodge and Mrs. Brudy in Newton Ground, Catherina Tweed at Harris; Joseph Cannonier at Tabernacle, Earl Thomas at Estridge, Roland Mills at Mansion, Keithly Armstrong at Green Hill and a white potato field overlooking Phillips farmed by John Percival, Debbie Davis, Selmon Carty, Eustace Jeffery, Lloyd Mills and  Michael Moses.

Dr. Douglas in highlighting the quality of the fruits, livestock and crops said he has detected in his dialogue "an urgency and a high level on the part of the farmers to partnership with his Government and the Department of Agriculture, in moving forward the Non- Sugar Agricultural Diversification Programme."

"Starting in Newton Ground and Fahie's, I am satisfied in my mind that we have the capacity here to produce pineapples of the highest quality to meet the local market and not only producing pineapple to meet the local market, but at the satisfaction of the farmer being financially secured in his operation," said Dr. Douglas.

He said the field visit which ended at the Armstrong Farm in Greenhill is a clear demonstration that the Kittitian fruit plate, that the Ministry of Agriculture has been speaking about, is a reality.

Papaya ready for the local supermatkets, hotels and restuarants at Armstrong Farms

Because with the concept of the Kittitian fruit plate being prepared and served to every tourist who has a breakfast in our hotels here, this to me is a tremendous opportunity for us to increase that linkage and ensure that the farmer is financially secured," said Prime Minster Douglas.

A medical doctor by profession, Prime Minister Douglas said that the Kittitian fruit plate also allows the nationals to increase their intake of the nutrients needed for a healthy lifestyle.

He said the visit to the white potato farm in Mansion indicates tremendous potential to supply the local market.

"Listening to the farmers they are saying "we are going to be able to supply the local market for three full months". From the potatoes that I have seen in the fields this morning and if they are to increase the cultivation with regard to more land being distributed to them, they are saying that "we can supply the market for six full months."

"Just imagine the loss from the national economy of having to import potatoes. Just imagine the value that will be added to St. Kitts and Nevis, if were able to produce those ourselves. So I want to encourage the Agricultural Department to continue to work with the small farmers and realise their goals because as I said, I detect an eagerness, I detect a high level of motivation and it is now our duty to provide them with the technical assistance and to provide them with the land they require," said Prime Minister Douglas.