2 February, 2015 (DCE) - The Ministry of Agriculture in St. Vincent and the Grenadines has provided over 3000 seeds of the short, early-bearing coconut trees, free of cost, to the Government of St. Kitts-Nevis.
The Ministry of Agriculture in St Kitts will be on the receiving end of a 20-foot container with approximately 3,000 coconut seeds that are more tolerant to pests and diseases. This comes after St Kitts’ Minister of Agriculture, the Honourable Nigel Carty, requested the support from the government of St Vincent and the Grenadines.
The move signals a strengthened regional tie through agricultural cooperation as it comes on the heels of the Ministry of Agriculture in St Kitts recently launching a National Response to the loss of the coconut palm. At least six to seven years ago, the majority of the island’s coconut palms were damaged, mainly by three diseases: the Red Palm Mite, Bud Rot and Lethal Yellowing.
Understanding the importance of food security, the Government of St Vincent and the Grenadines stated that as a regional priority, it is pleased to assist St. Kitts-Nevis in its drive to improve livelihoods and food security.
St Vincent’s Minister of Agriculture, the Honourable Saboto Caesar, emphasised how impressed he was with the inter-ministerial approach rooted in St Kitts’ national response to the loss of the coconut palm.
These involve the Departments of Agriculture and Constituency Empowerment, respectively, and the Ministry of Tourism through the Interagency Sustainable Destination Management Council.
The overall plan for St Kitts, is to utilise the over 300 acres of agricultural lands, already allocated around the island, as well as a concept proposal for a Coconut Park. Additionally, a zone of three to five acres will be identified and developed into a coconut nursery while tourists to St Kitts, will be able to visit the park and engage in experiential agro-tourism and also have the opportunity to purchase and plant a coconut seedling. Access will also be granted to craft vendors and walk-in visitors to the coconut groves. Similarly, a coconut patch will have drinks available to locals who want to participate.
Meanwhile, St. Kitts’ Minister of Agriculture, the Honourable Nigel Carty, underscored that his Ministry determined the best approach to solving the coconut problem had to include all the stakeholders who relied on the plant including craft vendors, drink sellers, agro-processors, taxi drivers and the various ministries.
The agricultural cooperation between St Vincent and the Grenadines and St Kitts-Nevis has resulted in a shipment of coconut seeds and cocoa seedlings.
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