Farmers’ Week 2015 opening a big flop!
According to officials of the department, the participation this year was at an all time low with just 20 participants compared to previous years when the numbers had been significantly higher. An official of the department, who asked not to be named as they are not permitted to speak to the media, said it has been a challenge to get the cooperation of most local farmers.
“It’s not expected to be better at Anegada, Jost Van Dyke or Virgin Gorda, farmers are frustrated and our management seems not to be prepared to reach them at their levels. I work here and I know of their concerns. Management, honestly, has been working above the farmers' heads and not side by side with them,” said the official.
The official opening ceremony was held yesterday January 30, 2015 at the Agriculture Department located at Paraquita Bay and despite the full house of legislators, there was a scant number of schools and other organised groups present, while the most familiar and well known faces of the many farmers in the Territory, more so Tortola, were noticeably absent.
This was not an oblivious fact to Deputy Premier and Minister of Natural Resources and Labour Dr The Honourable Kedrick D. Pickering who said, “I can see with my mind’s eyes the number of farmers and former farmers who are either present or not present, the people who kept our farming and agricultural industry growing.”
He also reminisced that planning and preparing for Farmers’ Week in days of old was something that was highly anticipated as special time would be put into preparing for it weeks in advance, “As a teenager growing up in the Long Look-Josiah’s Bay area that when you heard about exhibition it was a big thing because you were planning for it for weeks,” he said.
Yet the call by all who spoke sought to encourage a greater involvement of farmers in growing more food, especially among the youths, was loud. Hon Pickering said, “It’s a well accepted fact that the effects of global warming and climate change have affected food production negatively and this Territory must focus its plan for the agriculture sector on ensuring that our farming mechanisms become more scientific and proficient to ensure that the industry remains viable and competitive.”
He further stated, “Now it’s the mandate of the Department of Agriculture to develop sustainable food production systems and attain a level of food security as a back-up mechanism to imported foods, and since the department of agriculture is charged with the responsibility nurturing food production, the department must and I emphasize, must devise ways and means to encourage local food production.”
The theme for this year is, "Youth in Agriculture a Must - Food Security and Cultural Sustainability a Plus".
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