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| Hon Laughton Brandy, Mr George Wesoloski, Dr. Julian Ferdinand and Mr. Rohan Claxton of the Ministry of Agriculture
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CHARLESTOWN NEVIS (October 6, 2005) Junior Minister of Trade and Industry in the Nevis Island Administration (NIA) Hon Laughton Brandy said that the time had come for farmers to realise that competition is no longer local but extends to regional and international arena.
It was for that reason they should take advantage of all technical assistance available to better maintain their farms, remain competitive and be ready for the open market which they would be exposed to.
Mr. Brandy made the comment while he addressed a number of pig farmers on Monday at an Eastern Caribbean Group of Companies (ECGC) sponsored Feeds/Pig Production seminar in collaboration with the NIA, at the Government Supply Office Conference room, Pinneys Industrial Site. The event addressed issues on nutrition, farm sanitation and pig production.
You must consider that your competition is global it might be in China, your competition might be in South Africa, your competition is in Trinidad, your competition is in Guyana. So the issue now for farmers is the reality of being competitive. We must be competitive.
Caribbean Single Market Economy (CSME) is going to be fully implemented and this liberalises the trade within the region but on the heels of that, is a global trade liberalisation. We have to take advantage of any assistance we can get to work that transition out, from a regime of protectionism and subsidies to a real open market situation, a real free market. We have to take advantage of all technical assistance we can get.
I want to applaud the Ministry of Trade and the Agriculture Department for initiating this workshop to get our farmers updated on the best techniques available for rearing their pigs and in return they can reap maximum benefit from their output, he said.
Meantime, Mr George Wescoloski, Animal Nutritionist and Feed Consultant and workshop facilitator has been involved in animal nutrition for over 30 years most of which he spent in the Caribbean said his presentation addressed business empowerment and pig farming with a focus on efficiency.
I am here to try to get people to focus on efficiencies whereby they can spend their money in a proper way to get as much as possible from the feed that they are using and to get as much efficiency from the feed as possible, he said in an interview with the Government Information Service.
Mr. Wescoloski viewed pig production as being a viable investment once proper methods were utilised. I see pig production as a profitable business, done properly it is a business and it can reap a return for people. Done improperly people could lose money because it is a business, he said adding that once someone had spent money on structures or on labour to build a facility it becomes a business and needed to be treated as such if they expect a return, he said.
This was Mr. Wescoloskis first visit to Nevis and he noted his satisfaction with the high interest in pig farming, an observation he made at the end of a field visit to some farms on the island.
In some cases there are well advanced structures and in others there are quite primitive structures but I was pleased to see the interest in the people attending the seminar. Their interest seems to be sincere and as they spend their scarce resources on animal production. They were hungry for knowledge on how to use their resources in a way that is going to give them a return. I hope that I have contributed that to Nevis and the participants who are involved in animal production, he said.
Dr. Julian Ferdinand General Manager of ECGC who was also present, said his company was committed to regional development and integration and they were pleased to give back to the community. He explained that his company had enjoyed an 18 year relationship with Nevis during which time they had witnessed much growth in Nevis economy.
We have seen a lot of growth taking place in Nevis economy especially as it relates to the products that we are dealing with primarily the flour products in terms of the baking capacity here and also the animal husbandry that has developed, in particular, what has happened with the emergence of a poultry industry here in Nevis and to a lesser extent pigs, he said.
Dr Ferdinand explained that his company would cease to exist in the absence of the public's support for their products and in return they give back to the communities through training of farmers and bakers seminars.
He noted his company's critical partnership approach which has allowed them to enjoy a healthy relationship with veterinary offices in the region, adding that ECGC was always ready and willing to work with them to enhance what happens through the local Ministry of Agriculture in addition to the support they are able to bring from outside.
