St Kitts and Nevis: The 29th version of the St Kitts Agriculture Open Day has centered on showcasing new applied sciences, revolutionary practices, and native merchandise from April 25 to 26, 2024. The 2-day occasion served because the platform for the farmers, fishers, agro-processors, and small companies to work together with the nationwide viewers and acquire data concerning the newest tendencies in agriculture.
Hosted by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Marine Assets, the occasion additionally featured concepts to uplift the local people and improve sustainable practices. Held underneath the theme- “Securing Our Future By means of Sustainable Agriculture by 2025 and Past,” the occasion aligned with the sustainability objectives of St Kitts and Nevis.
The annual occasion additionally shows a variety of agro services and products, providing an opportunity for residents to work together immediately with farmers, fisherfolk, and different meals producers. The regionally grown produce has been broadly popularized by means of completely different occasions, stalls, and gross sales.
The Royal Basseterre Valley Nationwide Park showcased over 120 stalls of the regionally grown meals merchandise which has served because the platforms for the farmers to boost their enterprise. Moreover this, the occasion additionally featured the environment friendly instructional displays, technical demonstrations, watermelon and corn-eating competitions and free canine licensing.
First Day: Authorities Officers Promise Agriculture Revolution
On the primary day of the occasion, the officers of the federal government of St Kitts and Nevis arrived and addressed the general public on a number of issues of concern associated to agriculture. The temporary ceremony was hosted to welcome officers such because the Governor-Basic, Dame Marcella Liburd, members of the Federal Cupboard, together with Deputy Prime Minister Dr. Geoffrey Hanley, and Minister of Agriculture, Samal Duggins.
Minister Samal Duggins additionally gave keynote remarks and outlined the potential of the agriculture sector in diversifying the financial system. Terming it “lifeblood of the nation”, the Minister highlighted that the sector has the flexibility to empower the native residents, financial system, and surroundings as it could improve the dependency on the regionally grown produce.
He additionally urged the residents of St Kitts and Nevis to totally embrace the ability of the sector and acknowledged that this may help the nation in fulfilling the 25 by 25 Meals Import Discount Programme.
Additional, the federal government officers additionally promised to advertise the native grown meals and mentioned that that is the expertise of the farmers who showcased their merchandise on the honest with nice dedication. Samal Duggins added that the meals import precipitated the impacts equivalent to provide chain disruptions, and worth fluctations which makes the nation susceptible.
The show of the agro-processor merchandise marked the effectivity of the farmers of St Kitts and Nevis, which is the spine of the agriculture sector.
Along with that, the Ministry of Agriculture additionally handed over plenty of planting supplies to the farming neighborhood on the occasion, highlighting the 25 by 25 agenda.
Second Day: Goals to strengthen Group by means of Agriculture
On the second day of the Agriculture Open Day, the hundred extra patrons stopped by the stalls to reap the benefits of wide selection of agro merchandise which had been show and on the market on the exhibition. The neighborhood has interacted with farmers and fishers and enhanced their collaboration in a number of areas, equivalent to selling native items.
25 by 25 Meals Import Discount Programme
By means of St Kitts Agriculture Open Day 2024, the Ministry of Agriculture additionally promoted its agenda of 25 by 25 Good Import Discount. By enhancing the regionally grown merchandise, the target of the programme is to scale back the nation’s meals import invoice by 25% by the 12 months 2025.
The aim of the occasion was to create a complete platform for selling sustainable agriculture by fostering consciousness, training, and collaboration.