Farmers in the eastern agricultural region, especially the farmers of Castle Bruce had the opportunity to put on display, on Friday August 7th, the food produced in their community
Farmers displayed main crops grown in the area including dasheen, vegetables, potatoes and onions at the Castle Bruce Farmers Service Centre.
The Hon. Minister for Agriculture and Parliamentary Representative for the area, Johnson Drigo, as well as the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, Harold Guiste, Director of Agriculture, Ricky Brumant and a team from the Chinese Agriculture Mission formed part of the delegation attending the symposium.
As part of the event, a greenhouse funded by the agricultural mission was also officially commissioned.
“The greenhouse is to provide vegetables for the entire district- from the Kalinago Territory to Petit Soufriere. I need to see more backyard gardening in my constituency. We need to eat healthier and the easiest way is by helping ourselves. You may not be able to establish a large farm but every able-bodied resident can afford to have a small garden somewhere in their yard. There is absolutely no excuse for that. You have to be sick for you to be unable to do that.
“The seedlings are going sold very cheaply. We will be employing two young men to take care of the seedlings at the greenhouse.”
The Mission has also committed to continue providing seedlings and will also train farmers in seedling production.
In addition, the mission will provide equipment and tools to work the soil.
Seedlings that will be available from the greenhouse are watermelons, tomatoes, cabbage, celery, sweet peppers, eggplant and cauliflower.
The greenhouse cost an estimated $55,000.
Nature Island Farms ( N.I.F)
What of coffee plants? We have the coffee plan already Let us think smart. The estate have enough flat land for the production of coffee. Please push backyard gardening for healthier communities, eat what you grow.
A very good move … and in the right direction. Keep on doing positive things.
A good initiative however, the ministry of agriculture should manage this as an extension of what they already do at the gardens and at other similar facilities around the country. The seedling production should not be limited to just vegetables but cocoa, citrus e.t.c. sooner or later every village may want their own green house to do their own production. we are truly not maximising the use of our resources.
I totally disagree with the Chinese initiative, the reason being since the arrival of the Chinese seeds and seedling, there has been an increase in pest and disease particular vegetables. What testing are we doing to ensure the safety of farmers and to a greater extent consumers. No research is being conducted and you’ll here praising GM and ill practices.
