Agriculture Minister visits pig and cattle farms for World Foods Day
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| Minister Hon Robelto Hector gets an up close look at the pigs |
CHARLESTOWN NEVIS (OCTOBER 18, 2007) -- Minister of Agriculture on Nevis Hon. Robelto Hector, applauded a pig farmer who utilised the Low Ground Pig Development Centre provided by the Nevis Island Administration (NIA), in an effort to enhance pig farming on Nevis.
Mr. Hector’s spoke to farmer Mr. Clayton “Powers” Liburd on Wednesday October 17, 2007, during a field visit to his farm in keeping with the World Foods Day theme “The Right to Food”.
“I think the operation is quite impressive. I want to take this opportunity to congratulate the farmer. I also want to say to the Department that I am happy with the progress that I have seen,” he said.
Mr. Hector noted that when he became Minister of Agriculture just over one year ago, the pig farmers had expressed concern at a consultation, about the unavailability of land to raise their animals.
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| Director of Agriculture Dr. Kelvin Daly, Extension Officer Mr Rohan Claxton (centre) and his understudy look in on the cattle at Indian Castle while they feed on local ration |
“With the assistance of the Land Development Cooperation and the guidance of the Director and Department [of Agriculture], we were able to find a location. I am happy to see that just a few months after, what we [NIA] called a plan is actually a reality and celebrating it on World Food Day is indeed a great moment for all of us.
“The intention was that we relocate our farmers and an area be provided. To date I am not sure how many farmers have taken up the opportunity but I know Mr. Liburd has and he is doing well,” he said.
The Minister used the opportunity to urge Nevisians to continue to support the farmers and fishers of Nevis and hinted that he hoped to make an even greater appeal when the Ministry would launch a wider programme to impress on Nevisians the importance to buy local.
Meantime, Mr. Liburd who had 83 pigs in his farm and slaughtered one to two pigs
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| Minister of Agriculture on Nevis Hon. Robelto Hector at a pig farm with owner Mr. Clayton “Powers” Liburd at the Low Ground Pig Development Centre with other staff of the Department of Agriculture |
per week thanked the NIA through the Department of Agriculture for its support.
“I must be honest with you, if it wasn’t for the Department of Agriculture and the Director Dr. Daly, I think I might have been out of this thing [pig farming] because I had problems in getting a piece of land to put my animals and the sanitary officers were on my back.
“I spoke to Mr. Daly and said ‘look I think I am getting out’ and he said ‘no hold on I can’t afford to lose a next pig farmer’ and in another week he told me about this area. The Department held a meeting and invited all the pig farmers and I took up the challenge because I really did not want to get rid of my pigs because I had developed that love for them and I am happy to be here,” he said.
Following the trip to Low Ground Minister Hector also visited the Indian Castle Agricultural Farm for a feed lot demonstration with government owned cattle.
Also present on the field trip were Director in the Department of Agriculture Dr. Kelvin Daly, his Deputy Mr. Keithley Amory and other staff members.
