Taiwanese introduce new cash crop
By Ryan Haas
Reporter-SKNVibes.com
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| Ambassador Wu (right) donates peanuts to local farmer |
BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS- LOCAL farmers were yesterday introduced to several varieties of peanuts that are currently being researched by the Republic of China (ROC) Taiwan Technical Mission’s to provide a new cash crop for the Federation.
According to Dr. Keng-feng Chen, Chief of the Taiwanese Technical Mission, the research will help find a “high-yield strain of peanuts that is resistant to crop loss from insects and disease”.
Chen added that St. Kitts and Nevis were only able to produce around 86,000 kg (about 190,000 pounds) last year with the current variety of peanuts being grown in the Federation, Tennessee Red, while the domestic demand for the legume stands at around 120,000 kg (about 264,000 pounds).
Nearly forty farmers were informed at the ceremony about the improvements currently being made in peanut production, and the ROC Taiwan Ambassador, His Excellency Rong-chuan Wu, said he hoped the research project would “attract many ambitious, full-time farmers”.
“The Federation imported US $383 million and exported US $84 million of goods in 2006 according to the US CIA report. In other words, St. Kitts and Nevis only exported US $30,000 and imported over US $1 million per day,” said the Ambassador. “Now is the right time to take actions to reach the dream of self sufficient agriculture in this great Federation.” ~~Adz:Right~~
Director in the Department of Agriculture, Ashton Stanley encouraged farmers to embrace advancement being made in peanut production as yet another benefit from the Federation’s longstanding relationship with Taiwan.
“We have seen improvements in guava, carambola, wax apple, papaya, sweet potatoes and now peanuts from the research of the Technical Mission. It is important for us to share this information and learn from the data that is being gathered at the Needsmust Farm,” he stated.
The Director added that improvements were being made in the equipment used in peanut production, including a new tractor, a dryer and a roaster which were donated by the Taiwanese with funding from the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations.
Following the informative session, the farmers were given a tour of the Needsmust Farm and were allowed to observe the yield and quality of each peanut strain being grown. They were also shown a variety of sweet corn, guava, tomatoes and watermelon that are similarly being researched at the facility.
Several bags of peanut seeds were donated to the farmers from the Taiwanese Technical Mission to help them financially and also to gather more field data on the different strains being tested.
Curtis Martin, Speaker of the National Assembly of St. Kitts & Nevis gave closing remarks at the ceremony and reiterated the Ambassadors sentiment regarding becoming self sufficient.
“If the Taiwanese can grow it on our soil, then nothing should stop us from doing so. In order for us to break or cushion the impact of rising prices, it begs the question: ‘when are we going to feed ourselves with the fertile land that we have?”
Farmers study the different strains of peanuts
