BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – A buzz of excitement resonated throughout La Guerite agricultural site earlier today (Apr. 30) when the Agriculture Open Day 2009 was officially launched under the theme “Agriculture, Information, Technology, our guarantee to Food Security”.
Hundreds of students, teachers and members of the general public swarmed the grounds to view the displays of fruits and vegetables, livestock, floral arrangements and displays from various agricultural institutions across the Federation. This is the 14th staging of the 16-year event, which is focusing on educating the public on the importance of marrying technology and agriculture.
Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Co-operatives Hon. Cedric Liburd described the theme as an appropriate one, especially as the nation is working to ensure food security. He thanked the agricultural practitioners for coping with the numerous challenges facing the sector in order to provide high quality foodstuff for the nation.
“If the Ministry of Agriculture in collaboration with its farmers and agro-processors are to achieve the goal of providing locally-produced food for the population all year round, then everyone involved in food production and marketing must have the most up-to-date information and the applied technology needed to meet that goal,” Liburd said.
The Minister reported that there is a transformation in the use of technology in the area of livestock production. He informed that assistance in this specific came from the Governments of the Republic of China on Taiwan and Cuba as well as from the Department’s allied organisations. Minister Liburd also outlined the many benefits that technology in agriculture could offer farmers and fishers of St. Kitts-Nevis.
“Agricultural information and technology can ensure that our soils remain fertile, that our fish-stock is not depleting and that we have a never-ending supply of high quality, locally-produced food. It can also ensure that the cost of production is low so that farmers and fishers can make a profit while keeping the prices within the reach of the average man.
“Agricultural information and technology can remove the drudgery from farming and fishing and attract young entrepreneurs into the industry. It is truly the key to our food security,” Liburd said.
Liburd informed that his Department is committed to ensuring that agricultural practitioners get access to the relevant information and technical support to enhance the production in the nation’s most fundamental sector.
