9000 Seedlings donation enhances St Kitts and Nevis path to Food Sustainability

St Kitts and Nevis received 3,000 tissue-cultured banana seedlings and 6,000 pineapple seedlings from St Vincent and the Grenadines in a ceremony held at Needsmust Farm on January 5, 2023.

It is to be noted that the Ministry of Agriculture in the Government of SKN took a step in achieving the CARICOM 25 by 2025 agenda. This project will help the country to tackle the high food import bill and to secure food self-sufficiency and sustainability.

The ceremony marked the successful arrival of the seedlings and was attended by Minister of Agriculture Samal Duggins along with Permanent Secretary Miguel Flemming and Director of Agriculture Jeanelle Kelly, among other staff.

As per reports, the staff of the Department of Agriculture have already initiated the transplanting process in the region. The Ministry of Agriculture and the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) joined hands in the importation project of plants.

Notably, the IICA SKN technical specialist, Sharon Jones, was also present at the ceremony.

According to agricultural experts, the long-term social and economic collaboration between the member states, producer groups, organizations, and civil society could help the country in fulfilling the goal of 25 by 2025.

It is an effort to reassure the commitment to foster food security.

Notably, Samal Duggins, a Minister of Agriculture, attended a special meeting of the Organisation of the Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) along with the Council of the Ministers in August 2023, where he discussed several topics related to the sustainable agriculture sector.

In detail, they discussed the procedures and strategies for alignment and implementation of the Food and Agriculture Systems Transformation as it was introduced to create sustainable methods for food and agriculture production.

Noting this, they also held a talk regarding the processing and distribution of food products to address the rising food prices.

It is to be noted that Minister Duggins has continuously expressed his belief and confidence in the potential and competence of St Kitts and Nevis in increasing agricultural production. He also ensured that there would be a reduction of the 200-million-dollar food import bill.

Such friendly initiatives can lead to the growth of the agricultural sector, and the economy of the nation will flourish. Such ‘Give and take’ practices will lead to a better relationship among both the countries, i.e., SVG and St Kitts and Nevis.

Many people took to their official Facebook handle to express their excitement for the forthcoming improvement in their agriculture sector.

While reacting to the news, one user named Quanti Yahsand wrote, “Happy to see how we are utilizing our resources to support economic growth.”