‘We need to build agri & fisheries industries together’- Dr the Hon Wheatley
![Farmers & Fishers Week is being observed in the [British] Virgin Islands (VI) from Sunday, March 27 to Saturday, April 2, 2022. Photo: GIS](https://www.virginislandsnewsonline.com/cache/images/800x_f_Farmer.jpg)
Farmers & Fishers Week is being observed in the [British] Virgin Islands (VI) from Sunday, March 27 to Saturday, April 2, 2022.
‘We must work together’- Dr Wheatley
According to Deputy Premier and Minister for Education, Culture, Youth Affairs, Fisheries and Agriculture, Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheatley (R7), the Week’s theme ‘Rise - A Time for Action, Inspiration and Impact’ is guided by the principle that we must work together to inspire action and make the greatest impact.
“As we showcase the hard work of our farmers and fishers, we hope to inspire others to join the movement towards a more self-sufficient Virgin Islands,” Dr Wheatley said in a statement on Sunday, March 27, 2022, to launch the week of activities.
‘VI imports majority of what it consumes’
Dr Wheatley said there was no need for him to emphasise how important it is for Virgin Islanders to be more self-sufficient, as it is clear how easily the territory is affected by what takes place beyond its borders, as the VI imports the majority of what it consumes.
“It is also clear, that we cannot control or even influence these external changes and must therefore put our efforts into our internal growth while building healthy partnerships with those in our region and even internationally.”
He said careful investment and support for developing the local farming and fishing industries is necessary to build and further develop a well-structured, resilient and accountable food system in the Virgin Islands.
“As our population increases and our health, social and economic challenges become more complex, we have a responsibility to ensure that everyone is able to access healthy, life-giving food and fishers and farmers are able to build profitable industries that support them and their families, while contributing to our local economy.
Healthy food is essential for healthy communities and a healthy Virgin Islands. Access to healthy food is central to physical and mental health, minimal spending on health care and overall good quality of life.”
Food expresses VI culture
Dr Wheatley also said food is also an expression of the VI’s cultural heritage, noting that he is always amused by the tart wars, especially at Christmas time.
“Some islands in our Territory are even known for niche foods, for instance currimole fish and guinea corn from Anegada; rice porridge or steamed fish with boiled sugar apple on Jost van Dyke; boiled chicken in galvanise sauce in North Sound, Virgin Gorda; and boiled sugar apple and pigtail on Tortola, and of course our territorial dish of fungi and fish in mayonnaise sauce, which we hold as delicacies.”
The Agriculture Minister said Government also recognises that a healthy and diverse resource base is essential to the local fishing and farming industries.
“Healthy, rich soils free of harmful chemicals and vibrant disease-free marine ecosystems supported by our collective consciousness of careful use of our natural resources will ensure that these industries grow and thrive.”
Support Farmers & Fisheries Week- Dr Wheatley
Dr Wheatley said his Ministry is looking forward to the public’s full support of the week-long activities on all four of the major islands – from Anegada to Jost van Dyke.
He also encouraged the public to look out for daily features of farmers and fishers and other activities on the Government of the Virgin Islands’ Facebook page.
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20 Responses to “‘We need to build agri & fisheries industries together’- Dr the Hon Wheatley”
Moreover, Caricom region residents show an indifference to agriculture; this may be linked to slavery. Nevertheless, improving agricultural production in the region would a)reduce unemployment, b)improve the economy, c)reduce the regional food import bill, d)keep spending in the region, creating a multiplier effect, e)produce healthy organic food, and f)enhance regional food security posture.
The VI may not be able to be sufficient in food production. However, it should produce as much food as practical and possible, enjoying the same benefits as noted above.
For starters, the span of control of his ministry is too big. Education should be the top national focus and priority. Natural resources and agriculture seems like a natural fit. Dumping education, agriculture, fisheries, etc, under one ministry can appear as an inadvertent degradation of all of them. There is no sensible balance in that ministry. Peter Drucker, father of management science, asserts that one can be skilled at most one skill and beyond that one is a Jack of all trades and master of none.
Moreover, nonetheless, the Hon minister must rise to the tasks and lead from the front and make things happen. Engaging people is fine but one must be in the midst with action leading them up and over the hill. He needs to meet people where they are by adjusting his messaging. He is too pedantic in his methodology and needs to talk the language of the ‘lil man,’ the majority of voters. He fits to his messaging to the audience. Break it down and keep it real my brother.
Think about the millions already wasted on the greenhouses. For sure, they could be put back to use to grow products for sale at a Sat market for prices beyond the reach of many, but back to my question: where is the analysis of feasibility and viability? We’ve heard the Fish/Ag tune before but it’s never gone far. Why?
Not only this we need to identify understand multiply and nurture the indigenous plant & marine ecosystems and their natural production of food.
Plant more fruit trees. Government, schools, business ect are paying THOUSANDS to put down ornamentals. Meanwhile the large mango trees, tamarind trees, breadfruit trees and others that we do not think of until the ripe fruit is in our face were planted decades ago. They didnt spring up suddenly.
Either this trickle effect solution to food input small changes that cause food sources to multiply, or set aside one island for mass production of a few low maintenance staple food crops with a long shelf life by government.
Set a quota of essentially subsidized starch to be produced and stored yearly, a certain amount will always remain in storage that will ensure we do not starve for carbohydrates & vitamins during global emergencies considering that the sea is filled with protein.
Rotate out the old storage to make room for the new crops by donating surplus to the family support network, the planned alms house, and other organizations that feed the those in need.
In addition growing food in the sea should be explored.
What are all of these huge consultant contracts for after all? Pick up a book the ideas are there. strupes.
You have to go to your neighbor for those things! You cant go to a store for them either. You go to a farmer who is looking to charge upwards of $20 a slip.
How do you expect this place to be filled with food. The department had a banana grove and used to give out slips for $1. No more subsidized slips because it's more important for farmers to extort than fill this place up with food?
CMON. nurture the industry. I didnt understand how it can get worse but besides the money farmers are saying its gone from bad to worse.
Im sorry to speak the truth but there is more official activity while the real substance is worse than ever.
If you want to think about food security first think of food storage and small producers, that goes hand in hand with production. That WAS our successful model. Whether that's a number of root crops in the earth or a 'grain house' filled with non perishables, in legit food security plans long term storage can not be ignored.
They expect farmers to produce for today and tomorrow, neglecting the fact this is supposed to be a buffer to disaster, and persons repeatedly say we can not produce enough. Solution save up over time. Seriously if imports are disrupted we could starve for lack of education and capitalists' ideas about the role of government if we don't get our act together.
we keep talking about food security in an state of emergency does every house hold have viable seeds, a fry net and fishing lines? Are we educated on costal foraging? How about a patch of cassava in the earth. We can not depend on one farmer or one fisher.
Thats not feeding the territory after an Irma. After Irma everyone had to look for food or eat 'bird food'.
We need a collective effort and I am sure persons engaged in farming & fishing including in their backyard would donate extra food stock if there was a continuous drying, salting, smoking or canning initiative that can be rationed during a disaster. We literally have mangoes, hog plum, coconut rotting on the ground yet we say what will we eat when the ships stop coming.
Make like the ant not the grass hopper.