BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – THE once dormant St. Kitts Farmers Cooperative Society received a timely boost yesterday (Apr. 2) that will assist the entity in its resuscitation initiative.
Executives from the TDC Group of Companies yesterday donated seven gallons of paint, valued at over $1 100, to the Co-op to enhance the building within which its new office is housed in Needsmust.
In his explanation on the purpose for the establishing the new office for the revamped Cooperative, Registrar of Cooperatives Clyde Thompson said that the St. Kitts Farmers Cooperative is working on complying with the laws, which require the entity to have a centralised location for its operation.
He noted that the handing over ceremony was a symbolic one since the Farmers Co-op is currently rebuilding.
“In so doing, they must have a central point of operation and they must have business activities. Once you have a central point of operation people know you, people know where to find you and that instills a sense of pride in the members. And once you have a place of operation you will have a place of record-keeping and storage facilities in one place.”
He noted that once the St. Kitts Farmers Co-op has activities it would in turn support its member whose numbers currently stand in excess of 50.
Thompson highlighted that the Co-op would be assisting the farmers in creating markets for their produce and have them sold.
“So all they need to do is produce, as the members know that the Cooperative would be marketing their produce. So all they need to do is produce, supply the Cooperative and let who is capable of the marketing do the marketing.”
The Farmers Co-op is aiming to have more locally produced products on the shelves of some of the top supermarkets and restaurants around the island.
TDC Executive Director Glenville Jeffers said that farmers in the twin-island Federation should value all the contributions made by TDC Group of Companies, adding that TDC’s unwavering support towards them is helping to provide fresh local produce to consumers who may need them at any time.
Member of the St. Kitts Farmers Co-operative Society Otis Jeffers thanked TDC for its continued support to farmers and reflected on the 20 percent discount the company offered to them during Farmers’ Month last March.
