'We must become more self-sufficient' - Dr Wheatley
"We recognise that the world economy is being devastated as countries face shutdowns to prevent the spread of the virus. We recognise that ports in the region and around the globe are closing," Hon Wheatley said in statements released yesterday, Friday, March 20, 2020.
$2M earmarked for Fishing & Farming
According to the Minister, globally, supermarkets are struggling to satisfy demand as panicking individuals stockpile goods in anticipation of shortages in essential items he said.
Given those circumstances, Hon Wheatley noted that food security continues to be a major priority for the Premier Andrew A. Fahie (R1) led Virgin Islands Party (VIP) administration, to provide alternatives for sources of food in the territory.
"That is why... the Cabinet of the Virgin Islands approved a sum of $2 Million to stimulate the local Fishing and Farming sector," he said, and this is with the aims of addressing the serious threat for food security and the need to be more self-sufficient.
In the stimulus package called, “the Rapid Response Fishing and Farming Production Programme,” funding will now be available to purchase supplies necessary to get fisherfolks back in the water.
Apply for funding
In addition, he said monies will also go towards getting farmers back on their grounds through the purchase of more equipment of resources.
"Access to this funding means that we will ramp up production and provide the local market with the food necessary to sustain ourselves in this Virgin Islands economy."
Hon Wheatley encouraged farmers and fishermen from Anegada to Jost Van Dyke to contact the Department of Agriculture at 468-6123 to register for the programme as well as indicate what type of support is needed to get their industries moving.
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17 Responses to “'We must become more self-sufficient' - Dr Wheatley”
Sustainability? for who? When the negative responses is not coming from Agriculture department not wanting to distribute the lots to serious people, you hear about medical marijuana. Can we eat marijuana? So how and when sustainability will happen for the people of the British Virgin Islands?
CLEAN UP Pariquata Bay and take a serious assessment of who occupies the lots and who should occupy and for what purpose then define sustainability.
They mainly survived on fishing and farming for sustenance I don’t know why we felt that when we got “developed” that we needed to do away with our strength and sustenance. I applAud you hon minister
The department of agriculture needs to run its own seed/seedling bank not the national parks trust collecting a few seeds for scientific purposes and storing them forever. You used to be able to go to get banana, and a plethora of seedlings right at the department. $2 a dozen if I remember correctly. This sort of thing should not be the sole responsibility of private individuals.
All now root crops should be in the ground for food security.
Every home should have the ability to secure & plant a suitable crop whether in a dry or wet environment.
And why is fish so expensive on an island? Or scorning certain fish which were traditionally eaten. The fry come in near the end of the year and the birds have more than they can eat.
While we are at it lets get this cannabis/hemp thing rolling or atleast decriminalized as soon as possible. yes you can eat it, yes its a food crop a drought resistant one for our semi-arid climate & yes its a medicine. The whole plant is edible & many people are using hemp seeds right now in the BVI.
All these shortcoming come about due to lack of education & a unwillingness by government to give back to the people.
To the farmers & fishers your first though should be feeding people or providing healing for the people, second thought how much money it will make. Same to the contractors rebuilding houses. Same to the doctors. Come on. This is a christian society but it seems the root of all evil the primary motivator
When a fire fighter goes to out a fire he aint thinking "these people dont look as if they are worth my time might as well let it burn". I would throw the police up in there but in my opinion many are in it for the money, & the rest the power as their body language & division from society speaks to their predatory perspective upon their brothers & sisters - ordinary citizens.
Yes we need to become more self sufficient, what that means do we really know? I do not think it is as simple as it may seem, comrades.
I staying with vip all the way yall
We all should learn after Irma.
And only now you all realize how important farming and fishing is...
It is not if the US stop exporting.. but when...
Every home should have a garden.
Plant some banana and plantain..
Sweet potato...
And we could always find a fish in the sea to eat... we can survive...
So much chicken running around..
And people knocking their nose about nasty..
These same chicken could be on a farm we will get eggs...
Who want to laugh... Well continue...
Hard days ahead of us all.
And only the tough will survive..
Our Island depends on about 95% of our food form overseas... THINK..