BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, November 26th 2009 (Labour Secretariat) - Over fifty (50) farmers throughout the island of St. Kitts have been afforded the opportunity to see the working demonstration of modern equipment used in farming techniques globally.
Last Wednesday morning (18. Nov.), the Taiwan Technical Mission St.Kitts and Nevis/Taiwan International Cooperation and Development Fund (ICDF) centre in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture held a workshop for Land Preparation by Small Machine.
The one day workshop was conducted at Needmust Farm, Basseterre. The small machines were Power Tiller TSA 220 CY180 (a 1994 model and modern type) and Cultivator 850 S-Type.
It is understood that a machinery show was held in September at the ICDF centre and local farmers had requested a practical demonstration of the machinery.
During the demonstration process, some farmers took the opportunity to get a hand on experience while other paid keen attention to the practical lessons showcased.
Leader of the Taiwan Technical Mission in St.Kitts and Nevis/Taiwan ICDF centre, Mars Shuie said the Power Tiller is appropriate for farmers with five to ten acres. He advised farmers that it is not to be used on virgin lands because there may be a lot of tough weeds that would make ploughing difficult.
Shuie said that they will have to pick out the stones from the soil because the (Power Thriller) works like a rotator and stones could break the blades or cause injury.
Speaking to the work of the cultivator, the ICDF official said it is suitable for soft and loose soil on farms as well as for small backyard gardening.
Shuie outlined that the cultivator is used to spread fertilizer, adding that fertilizer must not be exposed in the sun or else it would evaporate in the air.
Resident ambassador of the Republic of China (Taiwan) to St.Kitts/Nevis, Rong -Chaun Wu said the machines are durable and deemed worthy to have been introduced to farmers through demonstration.
“After the rainy season we realized that farmers need to plough their land and that is why after consulting with the St.Kitts/Nevis government and the department of agriculture , we thought it would be good to have a workshop to train the local farmers how to operate a Power Tiller by themselves...," he stated.
Ambassador Wu said the advantage of operating a small machine like the Power Tiller, is that it is easier, cheaper, flexible and easy to operate when compared to other farming equipment.
As indicated by him, learning to operate the machines does not take a lot of time. He said farmers can have the option renting the equipment but that provision will be made to assist farmers with purchasing the machine in Taiwan.
“Any farmer can learn how to operate in five minutes so today we provide this opportunity for farmers to learn how to operate and when they are qualified and prove to us that they can operate, we are going to rent the machine at a cheap price,” he said.
He continued: “We just wanted to introduce these machines to our farmers. In the future, we would like our farmers to buy these machines because prices are cheap and we can facilitate the shipping.”
Minister of Lands, Housing and Agriculture, Hon. Cedric Liburd -who was unable to attend the event- praised the Taiwanese government for its continued support of the development of our people and the economy.
“As a result of making these equipment available to our farmers, the agricultural sector is expected to benefit most significantly,” he stated.
The Agriculture Minister viewed such saw assistance as a part of the vision he has for the use of farming equipment by local farmers in helping to address the issue of soil preparation.
Liburd pinpointed that one of the complaints by farmers is soil preparation done by the resources of the Agriculture Department. He said he is therefore pleased that provisions are now in place to allow farmers to prepare their agricultural grounds independently.
“And so the Taiwanese have come to our assistance in making this possible in helping to allow the farmers to become independent in this area,” said Liburd.
A 20 year- experienced farmer, Ras Phillip- out of Tabernacle- expressed enthusiasm and interest in having been afforded the opportunity to see operation of the farming machines.
“I think that the idea for the demonstration of the Power Tiller is good. It would really help the small farmers. But one has to be careful with the Tiller especially on sloping lands where it might be kind of difficult. But it could really help small farmers in the weeding section and banking or just soften the soil,” he said.
Founder of the Liamgua Cooperative (out of Cayon) farmer Winston ‘Ebro’ Caesar said he has been in the farming sector since the 70’s. Caesar said his organization has been in operation for twenty-five years.
“It is good that we are here at this workshop showing that agriculture could be a way forward. Representatives from my farming association are here and it is good that we are ready to show that agriculture is the way to go,” he stated.
All interested farmers are invited to register at the ICDF centre, located at La Guerite, Basseterre.
