Gov’t to build agriculture hub for local farmers
Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley has announced that the government plans to develop a new agriculture complex at Paraquita Bay to boost local food production and improve crop distribution.
Speaking at a recent press conference, Dr Wheatley said the new facility would act as a central collection and distribution point for produce grown by local farmers.
“When we build the agriculture complex in Paraquita Bay, one thing I’m going to start is actually buying produce from farmers. We’ll have a central point to be able to distribute goods to supermarkets, to hotels, etc,” he explained.
The move comes as regional leaders, including those from the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), have raised alarm about the threat posed by global tariff changes and supply chain disruptions. In March, OECS members agreed to meet monthly to coordinate regional strategies for food security, including harmonising tariffs and improving intra-regional transport.
“Food security is a real threat to the people of the BVI,” Dr Wheatley stressed. “We have to recognise the urgency of the moment.”
The Premier acknowledged that for too long, the BVI has depended heavily on imports, particularly from the United States. “All of us, the entire society, has taken our food security for granted,” he noted.
Efforts to ramp up local production include allocating agricultural land in areas like Virgin Gorda and Anegada, launching training programmes, and creating grant opportunities for farmers. “We are allocating more land in a place like Virgin Gorda and Long Bay. We’ve done the same in Anegada, about 40 acres of land we’ve allocated,” he stated.
Despite recent political shifts, Dr Wheatley said he remains committed to having a dedicated minister overseeing agriculture and fisheries. “We need to be able to have a minister function in that space,” he said, expressing hope that his request for additional ministerial roles will be approved by the UK Foreign Secretary.
Until then, former Junior Minister for Agriculture, Dr Karl Dawson, will continue to support the portfolio. “Dr Dawson has graciously agreed to continue supporting me in the area,” the Premier said.
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Isn’t that the reason market square was rebuilt? I’ve noticed persons selling clothing, perfumes and all manner of things.
S!0wW@nde running out of ideas and so he recycling dem. I know let’s have him and the rest of the A$$C!0wn brigade participate in a junior spelling bee contest. Something on par with their combined skill sets
A new no doubt multi million $ SHED!
Exactly right. The construction will be a nice little earner for a select few. Then another white elephant like Joes Hill, Market Square, and Huntums Ghut. The COI has clearly done nothing to rid us of the corruption.
This reads like another greenhouse debacle.
Agriculture food should be delivered to a central location where people shop and buy food. The only location on Tortola is ROAD TOWN. I recommend either the Cutlass Bldg or the under repair CAB since both are located in Road Town.
We need an update on the DDM building.
Which ministerial office is responsible for this?
As a farmer and friend …..all I can say in advice when I read this kind of stchups is that you are completely deluded to imagine that a large multimillion dollar complex in Paraquita such as you and your cohorts are proposing will do anything to increase Agricultural productivity or ‘Food Security’. It is patently insane that you insist on perusing this initiative, when ALL practioners in the sector and those in the public who are following the story are clearly telling you WE DO NOT NEED THIS COMPLEX.
We need you to spent 1/2 of the budget for this building to make a large scale Compost making facility to supply farmers with compost made from the organic waste we are currently burning every day in Pockwood pond – please. This coupled with a concerted effort to train farmers, young and old, in contemporary Agro ecological techniques will bring us the increased productivity we so desperately need.
Cancel this project please ! The more you insist on it the more problematic it will become…..
For DECADES anyone in the agriculture sector has done it alone. The land they work is spread across the territory. Why is the government so fixated on the Paraquita bay thing? The farmers are set up where they are and unable or unlikely to move. Look at who is where and who is producing and help them accordingly. But that would mean that the agriculture department would have to actually pay some interest in the farmers of the territory…. which up to now hasn’t been a priority.
SHOUL TURN PARIKITA IN A FARM , THERE ARE LOTS OF PEOPLE WHO ARE WILLING TO WORK IN THAT FIELD FROM HERE AND AND NOT FROM HERD AND CAN WORK ALONG SIDE EACHOTHER TO GROW OUR OWN HEALTHY VEGATEBLES, FREE OF ( GMO ) AND WE AIN TALKING ABOUT WEED LIKE THE WIGGED CANARY ON THE YELLO SITE SHOUTING OUT , TO LEGALIZE THE WEED , , LET HIM SMOKE HIS WEED IN PEACE ) THE GOVERNMENT CAN SPEND THE MONEY TO BUY THE
NESSESARY EQUIPMENT FOR THE FARM , INSTEAD ON ALL THE FREE JAMS / MUSIC FEST , AND VYBES KARTEL SHOW ETC
Another mistake. Farmers don’t need a place to sell their goods……..they need help in growing their goods. like water! A building such as you talked about is another huge WASTE of taxpayers $ and will not help farmers.
This issue keeps being mentioned despite the fact that Anegada is really not suitable for agriculture, other than maybe small scale hydroponics. Not enough to feed itself.
As to agriculture on other islands, has anyone estimated the needs of the island and compared it to what it would cost to produce it locally (including govt investment) vs. what it would cost to import it? Do we even know how many farmers there are, or how much available arable land there is?
So from the couple of local farmers/ fishermen I know, their issue is not getting the food/fish sell. Their issue is they need water, wells, they need more land, they need help with getting equipment/ parts etc. is like you spending millions to solve a problem that nobody complaining about. I know farmers that have their own agreements with supermarkets for supplying fish and produce what this doing for them? Maybe I’m wrong I would hope there were consultations with real farmers to see what their needs really are.
any thing right now to keep that rude farmer from in front of bobbys door hate to go in there when she got the place hold up…..like why even was the market square rebuilt
First of all why is she allowed to be selling in front of a supermarket. She can sell her goods but she needs to find another location to sell her goods. Can she go in front of any other supermarket and sell her goods? Perhaps her and Bobby have some type of arrangement. It’s not a good look.