St. Kitts and Nevis can benefit significantly from climate smart agriculture, agriculture director says

By: Chaïra Flanders

Basseterre, St. Kitts, April 22, 2020 (ZIZ News): St. Kitts and Nevis can benefit significantly from Climate Smart Agriculture in our rapidly changing world.

This was the message shared by Director of Agriculture, Melvin James as he addressed members of the public at the NEOC daily briefing on Wednesday.

Climate-smart agriculture (CSA) is an approach for transforming and reorienting agricultural systems to support food security under the new realities of climate change.

Mr. James who was also at the time speaking on the observance of World Earth Day, said that it was important for our twin island federation to understand that the role of Agriculture is crucial in mitigating but also adapting to climate change.

 He said, “St. Kitts agriculture is truly in its infantile stage. Hopefully we understand that we are ripe for agricultural development and when we do so, let us think about the concept that is called Climate Smart Agriculture. It involves things like mix farming, protected agriculture to name a few”.

The Director said it is up to our people to find ways to support environmental protection.

“If we do not do our part to help to protect our environment then life will not be as we know it today and there is no guarantee that the human species will be able to survive in it. Let us be reminded of Earth Day, its meaning and relevance to our own survival”, Director James expressed.

Earth Day is celebrated annually around the world on April 22. Wednesday marked 50 years of Earth Day.

This year, Earth Day was observed under the theme, “Climate Action”.