CHARLESTOWN, Nevis - ENHANCING food security is a major push being undertaken by the Nevis Island Administration (NIA) as there continues to be dependency on imported food items; a challenge that was amplified during the COVID-19 lockdowns.
From April through June, the entire Federation was challenged by the shortage of food items in supermarkets as there was panic buying, and cargo vessels could not have kept up with the COVID-19 measures to quickly transport food.
That had left bare the shelves of many supermarkets, throwing the issue of the dependency on imported food items back into the spotlight.
While chastising the culprits who were involved in a string of praedial larceny and crop and livestock destruction, Premier Mark Brantley reminded that his Administration has been pushing to ensure the island remains food secure.
In an effort to have farmers engaged in planting more produce throughout the year, the NIA had implemented a number of measures including the providence of seedlings, seeds and free land preparation.
During his January press conference held at the Social Security Building on the island, the Premier also reminded of the free lands that were made available, the free fencing of it and free water to farmers in the sector.
Livestock farmers and fishermen have also benefited from the Government’s drive, with the former receiving feed while the latter gained fish pot wires.
“And all of this we have done because we have decided that the abiding lessons of COVID-19 are that the people of Nevis should never again be wholly dependent on Tropical Shipping coming in from Miami. We have to be able to feed ourselves and be self-sufficient, at least in some of our food items,” noted Brantley.
Highlighting the dependency on imported food, the Premier disclosed that for last year the import bill was $20 million for Nevis of food produce that could have been grown on the island.
“There is nothing stopping us from producing things like chicken, pork, mutton, beef, vegetables, and we know what we produce here we have something fresh,” added Brantley.
