Decreased allocation for Housing, Agriculture, Fisheries Ministry
Agriculture training for former sugar workers
By Melissa Bryant
Reporter-SKNVibes.com
~~Adz:Left~~ BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – THE Ministry of Housing, Agriculture and Fisheries has been allocated EC$9M, which represents a decrease of 3.8 percent relative to the 2008 allocation.
The decrease was announced at yesterday’s (Dec. 16) reading of the 2009 Budget Address by Minister of Finance Dr. the Hon. Timothy Harris.
Despite the reduction of funds allotted to these areas, Harris reinforced the government’s commitment to achieving objectives outlined in the Agriculture Development Strategy.
“Our aim is to ensure food security and satisfy export markets towards sustainable development in St. Kitts and Nevis. Consequently, we will continue to invest in our small farmers and to encourage the involvement of former sugar workers in the agricultural sector by providing required training in the utilisation of agricultural inputs and a business-oriented perspective to the sector,” he declared.
He also revealed that agricultural output during the first nine months of this year indicates an increase of 23.3 percent when compared to the same period in 2007, and that almost 40 000 pounds of crop products were exported to St. Martin, St. Eustatius, Antigua and Anguilla.
However, Harris noted that there were some slight setbacks as dry weather patterns during the earlier months of this year affected production of some crops and, subsequently, it had reinforced the government’s resolve to secure resources that would enable farmers to be on the cutting edge of technology in order to prolong production periods and improve storage and packaging.
He further stated that livestock production recorded moderate increases for beef and mutton during the first nine months of 2008 when compared to the same period in 2007. He also mentioned that several institutional initiatives are currently being implemented within the Federation.
“The Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) has funded a project to provide agricultural inputs to our vulnerable small farmers. The Republic of China (Taiwan) has been demonstrating the growing of new varieties of peanuts, sweet potatoes and sweet corn. In addition, the Cuban government has been assisting us in organoponic agriculture and in implementing our programme for the development of home gardening.
“Some 80 households have been receiving assistance from the Department of Agriculture in the development of their kitchen/urban gardens and some of our former sugar workers have been benefiting from technical training and the provision of agricultural inputs under the FAO project. In fact, this year alone, some 100 former sugar workers were attached to 70 crop farms around St. Kitts,” he said.
Improvement was also made in the fishing sub-sector, as Harris reported that fish landings for the first nine months of this year were estimated at 663 000 pounds, an increase of 28 percent over the same period in 2007.
He attributed the increase to the government’s investment in the Basseterre and Old Road Fisheries Complexes as well as improvements in the handling, marketing and distribution of fish.
“We [the government] view the fishing industry as an important means of income generation for many of our people. It is our view that commercialisation is the key to advancing this industry. Therefore, we have commissioned the construction of a 40-foot multipurpose fishing vessel by our very own local boat building company, Indigo Yachts.
“This vessel will be the first of two boats that will be used to smooth the transition of the industry from primarily artisan fishing to commercial fishing. The first vessel will be ready in 2009 and will first be used as a training platform for persons, both males and females, who are interested in the fishing industry,” Harris revealed.
