Agriculture still occupies pride of place says Minister Hector
 |
| Minister of Agriculture on Nevis, the Hon. Robleto Hector |
CHARLESTOWN NEVIS (OCTOBER 16, 2007) -- Minister of Agriculture in the Nevis Island Administration, the Hon. Robelto Hector said agriculture still occupied pride of place in the region’s food security despite the global challenge of challenge which faced Caribbean agriculture.
The Minister made the statement in a radio and television address to kick off activities for World Food Day celebrations on Nevis which commenced on Tuesday.
The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations (UN), celebrated World Food Day on October 16th annually. More than 150 countries worldwide observed the importance of the day this year with the theme “The Right to Food”.
“We are faced with the removal of preferential treatment and the exposure to greater competition on the world stage. As challenging as this may be, the opportunity exists for us as a small country and a small region to explore the natural synergies between agriculture and tourism.
“Despite our many efforts to diversify our country’s economy in new areas such as tourism and financial services, agriculture still occupies a pride of place in our food security,” The Minister said.
Mr. Hector said that, some 850 million persons around the world were deprived of food and asked that Nevisians continued to pray for those who found themselves in those conditions.
In speaking to the theme, the Agriculture Minister said it was the right of every person to have access to an adequate supply of food and stated that the Nevis Island Administration [NIA] would continue to encourage and support local farmers and fishers to improve their productivity.
~~Adz:Right~~
“As a government we will continue to provide farmers and fishers with the critical support that is necessary to improve their productivity and increase their income base.
“It is the right of every person to have regular access to sufficient nutritionally adequate food for an active and healthy life. It is the right to feed ourselves in dignity, rather than the right to be fed. I call on our population to continue to support our local farmers and fishers, and to teach our children the importance of proper nutrition for their well being,” Mr. Hector said.
To observe the day, the Department of Agriculture launched a number of activities to mark this event. They included the official launch of a Telefood Project funded by the FAO which involved containerised gardens at St Thomas’ Primary School and the Ivor Walters Primary School.
Other activities to celebrate the Day would also include feedlot demonstrations at Indian Castle, the launch of a fruit tree project at New River Estate and the sale of plants at half price at the Prospect Agricultural Station. A ceremony in recognition of the hard work of some local farmers and fishers was also planned for later this week.
