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Hon Dr. Timothy Harris |
ZIZ News…March 4, 2010 – Dr the Hon Timothy Harris, Senior Minister and Minister of Agriculture, is expected to address the Department of Agriculture’s Annual Review on Tuesday, March 09, 2010. In his first address to the public since resuming duties as Minister of Agriculture, Dr Harris is expected to outline plans and programmes for increasing food production and articulate a role for agriculture in the stability and transformation of the economy of St Kitts and Nevis.
The Senior Minister is no stranger to the agricultural sector. He was the first member of the Labour administration to serve as Minister of Agriculture, Lands and Housing over the period 1995-2000. He spearheaded the revitalization of the livestock sector which was then suffering from a tropical bont tick disease. He began the decentralization of agricultural support services to rural communities and established Outreach Centres at Tabernacle and Fahies. Tabernacle and Con Phipps were designated for Livestock Development Centres and long term leasehold agreements for farmers were pursued.
Harris pursued cooperation with stakeholders and presided over the launch of what was to become an Annual Celebration of Agriculture Day and recognition of farmers.
The Director of Agriculture, Mr Ashton Stanley will provide an overview of the performance of the agricultural sector for 2009 and the expected outcomes for 2010. Programme leaders are also expected to make a presentation.
Agriculture stakeholders including CARDI, IICA, the Republic of China on Taiwan, and the Embassy of Venezuela, are expected to be represented at the opening session.