Some of the persons in attendance at this morning's ceremony. Photo: Reuben Stoby/VINO

Some of the items on display

Members of the head table at this morning's ceremony: From right Mr Bevin Braithwaite, Pastor Howard Simon, Chief Registrar of Lands Mrs Erica Smith Penn and Deputy Chief Agricultural Officer Mrs Arona Fahie Forbes. Photo: Reuben Stoby/VINO

Persons were given an opportunity to sample a variety of dishes including rabbit, local okra, local chicken, sweet gourd and local egg plants.

“What government can do also is to continue to train and involve the young agricultural professionals to be ready and to lead an agricultural industry in the future. We have young people trained in animal businesses, Forestry, Agronomy, Veterinary Science and other agri-related fields.”

Mr. Braithwaite also said Government currently has one student abroad studying Veterinary Science but there was need for more young people to get involved in Agriculture. “This is how the industry is built and made sustainable. When young people get involved then there is a future for Agriculture in the Virgin Islands”, Mr. Braithwaite said.

Commenting on the theme of World Food Day 2011, which is “Food Prices: From Crisis to Stability”, Mr Braithwaite said all are aware that food prices have been increasing and the supply of local food is not adequate to encourage food security in the Virgin Islands, however, the Territory can only truly seek for an atmosphere of food security if the entire VI community unites and supports Agriculture.

“We can work together too by increasing our food security by increasing the food that we produce while the Government is working to increase production through the greenhouses. We strongly encourage our fellow Virgin Islanders to have backyard gardens, community gardens and school gardens that they can harvest agricultural produce. We are currently working with several schools to revive their crop gardens. We started with the Shade House Project at the Joyce Samuel Primary School and are currently working with the PTA and students to plant crops,” Mr. Braithwaite said.

Meanwhile, agricultural displays, informational packages, and tastings of rabbit, local chicken and other produce are ongoing until 3 p.m.

The Territory’s first observance of World Food Day was in 2009. World Food Day was established in 1979 by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations (UN). FAO of the UN leads international efforts to promote the agricultural industry and to defeat hunger, serving both developed and developing countries.