CHARLESTOWN NEVIS (March 26, 2007) -- Agriculture officials on Nevis are moving in earnest to complete preparations for the 13th Annual Open Day Department planned for March 29-30, 2007 at the Villa in Charlestown. Over the years the event emerged as a major exercise on the Department of Agriculture in Nevis" annual list of activities but this years activity will see a number of changes under the theme "Implementing Science and Technology to Increase and Sustain Agricultural Productivity"
During a recent interview with the Department of Information, Communications Officer Mr Eric Evelyn explained, that this year's event would be held for the first time under the patronage of a Fisher and there would be a heavy emphasis on technology.
"For the fist time, this year we will be honouring a fisher as our patron, since the department started having Open Day, we have always had someone who had worked with the Department of Agriculture or who had been a crop or livestock farmer. It was decided by the Ministry this year that we would honour someone from the fisheries industry and as a result, this year our patron is a Fisher by the name of Charles Cozier who is from the Mount Lilly area.
"It has also been decided by the Ministry that from now on we will be rotating between the Departments of Agriculture, Cooperatives and Fisheries to honour a patron. Apart from honouring a patron, we will also be honouring persons from Agriculture, Cooperatives and Fisheries as well as staff members," he said.
While he spoke to other additions to this year's event, Mr. Evelyn noted there would be the introduction of a bar tender's contest to promote locally produced fruits and vegetables through drinks. He said in the past, there had been several food preparation demonstrations which promoted the same ideals.
The theme he said was selected in an effort to highlight modern technology and services offered by the Department of Agriculture and its Allied Agencies as well as the technology utilised by farmers.
"This year our focus is heavily on technology and our theme speaks to that which is "Implementing Science Technology to Increase and Sustain Agricultural Productivity" because of that there are various technological advancements that we are wishing to showcase.
"We will be showcasing various technological advancements that we would be encouraging stakeholders in the agriculture, fisheries and cooperatives industries to take up. For example we would be showcasing something called bio gas which is the use of energy from animal manure; we would also be doing something called vermin culture which is the making of compost using a special variety of worms. The agricultural section would be showcasing the use of slatted floors for animal production," he said.
According to Mr. Evelyn, the Department had organised the annual Open Day in an effort to highlight the appropriate technology necessary for agricultural development; to create a greater awareness of the activities of the Department; to foster greater collaboration between the Department of Agriculture, its clients and allied agencies; to showcase high quality produce and to sensitise the public of the need for increased food production. ~~adz:Right~~
Mr. Evelyn also noted that apart from the educational dimension of the Open Day, entertainment would play a major part in the activity to ensure a heavy presence of the public at the event. There will be two live bands, a string band and music from a sound system.
Other attractions include raffles of a calf, a sheep and a pig in line with the Department's promotion of the production of livestock.
He said patrons could also expect to see the invaluable impute of the department's Allied Agencies which included Mission Taiwan, the Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI), the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), the ECGC (East Caribbean Group of Companies), other government departments and business institutions that have been associated with the Open Day over the past 12 years.
The Open Day will commence with an opening ceremony slated for 9:30 am on Thursday March 29 and will operate from 9am to 6pm on both days.
