Local farming network rolls out initiative to boost food production! Volunteers learn craft

At least 20 farmers from the BVI farmers network have created an initiative which will give interested local volunteers the necessary experience in various areas of cultivation, while also assisting local farmers with the needed help.

Member of the local farmers network Aragorn Dick-Read told BVI News that the initiative was created to help boost the output of produce within the territory and also to increase awareness of the work that is needed to improve the local food supply.

“It’s to encourage more and more people because there has been an upsurge in home gardens since the curfew time, so there is a lot of people who want to learn about gardening and learn about farming and they can win-win like that and also they go back home with a bag of food,” he stated.

Farmers in need of more volunteers

Dick-Read said since the initiative was created, he was able to assign volunteers to various farmers across the territory including in Anegada, Virgin Gorda and Jost Van Dyke.

However, he said there is a need for more volunteers, as many of the farmers across the BVI have been short on assistance since the demand for local produce increased following the curfew period.

After the launch of the initiative, Dick-Read said the response was good, but due to the resumption of businesses and schools (online), some volunteers can now only assist during weekends, if at all.

“The thing is, a lot of people are going back to work now so there hasn’t been enough response for working day people because a lot of people want to come and work on the farm in the morning but they have to go back to their job at 9 so it slows down the response.”

“Most farmers don’t go out in the field in the middle of the hot sun, so we encourage people to come from 7 to 11 am, and if there is not an afternoon curfew and they prefer to come then, they can come from 3 pm and work until 7 pm,” he further stated.

How to contact to volunteer

Interested persons wishing to volunteer their time to assist farmers can contact Dick-Read at 284-542-0586. Once contacted, persons will then be assigned to a farmer close to their residence.