Minister of Agriculture, Lands, Housing & the Environment Hon. Hilson Baptiste has reaffirmed the economic importance of the sector, in the provision of employment and its potential to transform the twin island state through the increased export of produce, and attained food security.

Already, Minister Baptiste said, a board affiliated department of the ministry the Central Marketing Corporation (CMC), has began to export various agricultural commodities to the United States Virgin Islands (USVI).

Successful initial trials on white potatoes (Solanum tuberosum), were also done at Christian Valley, to boost food security and maximize farmer’s option in producing other staple based commodities.

He said, however, that “transformation will not take place without increased investment in agriculture, including the banks granting loans to small farmers.”

So far, the ministry has began the process to distribute longterm leases to farmers and other persons who are vying for opportunities to develop land and even make it attractive to agribusinesses.

Minister Baptiste, on Wednesday, reiterates government support to farmers through subsidies of farm inputs including fertilizers and seeds, despite the signs that show the trend of the rise in food prices internationally.

He said that, “there is an opportunity in agriculture and citizens are also recognizing the need to invest in their own food security.”

Just recently, the Ministry hosts its first National backyard garden day, close to 100,000 assorted seedlings and a controlled quantity of fertilizers were distributed to new and existing backyard gardeners. Antigua was the first country to introduce the National Backyard Garden Day, which now serves as a best practice to food security and has since been adopted by several Caribbean Countries, including Jamaica.

Minister Baptiste said, efforts are ongoing to seek funding for agricultural development and an enhanced approach to food security.

He expressed that productivity has a long way to go and efforts are being made to innovate the sector and improve storage capacity. Funding is also being sourced for improved infrastructure.

“If you want agriculture to work you need to allow agricultural products to get to the market, and that means you need roads,” Minister Baptiste said, adding that some work had commenced on farm road development.