Agriculture stakeholders review progress and plan ahead

BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS (SKNIS – March 8, 2010): Farmers and agriculture officials would meet on Tuesday, March 9, to discuss a wide range of issues pertaining to the development of agriculture in the Federation.

The meeting will be the 15th Annual Agriculture Review and Planning Meeting of the Department of Agriculture. Speaking with SKNIS, the Director of Agriculture Mr. Aston Stanley the meeting will be held under the theme, “Achieving Food Security in Times of Crisis in the Context of St. Kitts and Nevis.” He indicated that during this year, the department would want to place greater attention to land-use issues, project implementation, the response to climate change, water harvesting and the introduction of new livestock programmes.

Among the officials to address the meeting are the Hon. Dr. Timothy Harris, who re-assumed the agriculture portfolio following the 2010 general elections, and keynote speaker Mr. Analdo Bailey, who is a well-known banker and currently the Chief Executive Officer of the Eastern Caribbean Institute of Banking and Financial Services.

Also to attend the annual review and planning meeting are representatives of allied agencies of the Department of Agriculture. These include CARDI, the FAO, IICA, the Agriculture Resource Management Project and the Agricultural and Technical Mission of the Republic of China (Taiwan).

The meeting would be held at the conference room of the Foundation for National Development, March 9, commencing at 8:30 a.m.