BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – TO avoid compromising the underground water source upon which the Taiwanese demonstration farm currently sits, the government of St. Kitts-Nevis has approved a new site for the farm to be transferred.

The farm is currently located at Needsmust Estate along the Kim Collins Highway.

According to the most recent post-Cabinet briefing, that area “has been zoned as a protected area as the Water Department has advised that that area forms part of the Basseterre Valley aquifer that supplies water to Basseterre, Frigate Bay and the South-East Peninsula”.

The briefing further informed that the water source could be compromised should there be any additional expansion of agricultural activity or agrochemical use.

The new site approved by Cabinet is at Sir Gilles, Sandy Point, and the objectives of the new farm are: demonstration of commercial food crop and fruit production; introduction and evaluation of new food crops and fruit varieties; training of farmers in advanced agricultural techniques; and germination and propagation of plant.

These objectives fall under the new agreement signed by the Government of St. Kitts-Nevis and the Republic of China (Taiwan) as it (the agreement) “calls for the ROC to assist in the introduction of new farming techniques, food crops and fruit varieties to the local farming population”.

“Minister of Agriculture, the Hon. Cedric Liburd, explained that the new demonstration farm is part of his ministry’s efforts to improve agricultural output in quantity, quality and variety, and that his ministry is on track with the implementation of its agricultural policy,” the briefing informed.