Farmers are cornerstone of Federation’s future…says PM Douglas

By Stanford Conway
Editor-in-Chief-SKNVibes.com

Prime Minister of St. Kitts-Nevis, Dr. Hon. Denzil Douglas

Dr. Douglas made this disclosure to media practitioners yesterday at his Monthly Press Conference in the Parliamentary Lounge at Government Headquarters on Church Street, Basseterre.

“Following the allocation of some 100 acres of land to farmers in Estridge, Mansion, Phillips’ and Old Road, 44 more farmers have received 80 additional acres of land in the Fahie’s Agricultural Belt. This brings to some 224 acres of land that has been made available for farming in what is called ‘the Bread Basket of St. Kitts’.  This reflects my government’s commitment to empower the ordinary man and woman in St. Kitts and Nevis in the all important area of agriculture and food security.”

He declared that some 1 000 acres of land have also been earmarked for distribution for agricultural purposes “only” in the Whitegate area, from Newton Ground to Belle Vue.

The PM said that farmers have a very crucial role to play in the development of the Federation, “because agriculture has a highly critical role to play in the continued development of our country, especially as we diversify the national economy away from sugar agriculture.    ~~Adz:Right~~
 
Listing some of his government’s priorities, the political leader said, “Food security is a priority of my government. Reducing our nation’s food import bill is also a priority of my government, and the health of the people of St. Kitts and Nevis remains a high priority of my government.  And all of these objectives will best be met by the government and by the people of St. Kitts and Nevis working together to increase both the production and the consumption of locally grown, natural, non-processed, health and life-sustaining food.”

Dr. Douglas informed that following an agreement between the local Farmers’ Society and the St. Kitts Marriott Resort, farmers had received over EC$250 000 for supplying over 10 000 pounds of green vegetables, fruits, fish and meat to the hotel over the past three months.

“I emphasise this afternoon that our farmers are the cornerstone of this country’s future, and it is this realisation that underlies my own government’s expanded allocations of lands to this important sector of our economy,” Dr. Douglas said.

He also declared that over 4 000 sheep and goats as well as 400 heads of cattle currently being raised on the South East Peninsula would be removed from that area to an additional 100 acres of land in the West Farm and other areas provided for livestock industry.

Dr. Douglas said the relocation of the animals is to facilitate the development programme planned for the South East Peninsula.