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| Local cabbages produced at Rawlins, Gingerland |
CHARLESTOWN NEVIS (January 19, 2006) -- The Department of Agriculture on Nevis has recorded a strong crop production particularly in the area of vegetables for the year so far. The disclosure was made by Mr Eric Evelyn the Department's Communications Officer.
He said that the Department has had to institute a ban on the importation of tomatoes and there are indications that it would also extend to cabbages in order to ensure protection of the local market.
We have quite a number of vegetable crops that are available at the moment and I am very happy to report we have an abundance of tomatoes on the island and as a result we have had to put a ban in place for the importation of tomatoes into Nevis.
So right now there is a ban in place and tomatoes will not be allowed unto the island until further notice. We are expecting this abundance of tomatoes to last a couple of weeks.
"We are expecting an abundance of cabbages in the next two weeks as well and once this comes into place we will also have to put a ban in place for cabbages as well," he said.
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| Mr Eric Evelyn Communications Officer with the Department of Agriculture on Nevis |
According to Mr Evelyn, in addition there are sweet peppers, sweet potatoes, cassava, cucumbers, butternut squash, pumpkin and some sorrel available on the local market.
He commended the farmers for "doing an excellent job" for the latter part of 2005 and the early weeks of 2006 adding that the Department was hopeful that what "we are seeing so far for 2006 is an indication as to a bountiful crop for 2006 where agriculture is concerned."
The H7 yellow onion variety is normally harvested from the end of February through to April and this year it is expected that the crop would be available till June. Mr Evelyn said once there is a good supply to cover the domestic market a ban would also be put in place on onion importation.
Commenting on the onion production Mr Evelyn explained that the crop was progressing smoothly. In the latter part of 2005 the Department had 12 acres of land at Prospect, Port Works and New River under onion cultivation adding that the Department had hoped to add another five acres of onion production in an effort to prolong the availability of local onions on the market.
He said the Department was pleased that some farmers had also decided to engage in onion farming and they were hopeful that the move would be an added incentive to encourage more farmers to return onion production.
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| Local tomatoes produced at a farm in Cades Bay |
"In past years we had a number of farmers who were involved in onion production and for some reason or the other the interest was lost and we are hoping that the interest would be rekindled where farmers are concerned with onion production," he said.
Mr Evelyn noted that the farmers have been given incentives by the Ministry of Agriculture including duty free concessions on implements; duty free concessions on vehicles to bona fide farmers; a subsidised tractor service; subsidised implements from the Marketing Division and free Extension service.
