CHARLESTOWN, Nevis - AGRICULTURE officials on Nevis are trying to grapple with the problems of Praedial Larceny and the wanton destruction of crops and livestock which have become major issues in recent weeks.
The issues were raised by Premier Mark Brantley at his recently held press conference, where he said that there are too many people who sit down at home on a daily basis and watch others work hard only to steal.
Praedial Larceny is the theft of agriculture crops or livestock from a farm.
To this end, the Department of Agriculture in Charlestown has stepped up its vigilance and is now putting out a clarion call for people to be mindful from whom they purchase produce.
“We are a society that ought to encourage our people to go out and work and to make an honest living. And so the Department recognises that Predial Larceny continues to be a problem and some people are reaping where they did not sow. And we are asking our people to desist from such behaviour,” Brantley stated.
He added: “The Department is going further, and they are saying that where you, members of the public, are buying vegetables, fruits, please try as much to buy from established farmers.”
The Premier reminded that those people who are involved in the act of larceny often sell their take for below the market price. He highlighted the example of a breadfruit retailing for $5 but it being pushed for$0.50.
“And so one of the ways we are hoping to tackle this Praedial Larceny is to cut off the avenue for those who are stealing from selling. And you the members of the public can help in that regard,” announced Brantley.
The issue of vandalism on farms was condemned by Brantley, who disclosed that one farmer had his crops destroyed while another had animals also destroyed.
Those acts, he insisted, are defeating the push by the Government on the island to become food sustainable - an issue that was amplified during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We have in this little Nevis been fighting valiantly since COVID came as an unexpected and an uninvited visitor to enhance our food security. We cannot achieve that if we have farmers and others in conflict with each other who are set now upon the destruction of crops and livestock.
“The Government and the people will never achieve the food security that we seek if this is the case. So, I am imploring our people to do what is right and condemning unreservedly those bad actors who would have seen it fit to destroy those farmers’ crops and would have seen it fit to destroy the farmers’ livestock. We simply cannot continue in that vein,” he implored.
Brantley noted that he has reached out to the police and invited them to conduct a thorough investigation so that the culprits could be brought to justice.
