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More farmers venturing into tourism

Junior Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries, Dr Karl Dawson

Despite acknowledging numerous challenges, Junior Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries Dr Karl Dawson has commended local farmers who are finding creative ways to generate interest in their work.

Minister Dawson said he is particularly pleased with the growing trend in which farmers are opening their operations for tours, which residents and visitors can enjoy.

“This is very important as continued success in tourism depends in large part on a far more diversified tourist experience, which must include a breadth of activities that create satisfaction and more economic opportunities for Virgin Islanders,” Dr Dawson said in his territorial address recently.

Farmers have been struggling locally, especially those at the Paraquita Bay hub, where most large-scale farming takes place. The main issue is water supply, which the growers say is preventing them from producing sustainably to satisfy their customers.

The government continues to maintain that more will be done to assist farmers, especially as the ministry works to deliver a comprehensive agriculture and fisheries plan in the second quarter of 2024.

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10 Comments

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  1. Styles. says:

    Does this mean these so called farmers can now also apply for tourism grants?

    Asking for a bunch of friends looking for more money they shouldn’t receive.

    #freemoneyforcronies

    Like 13
    Dislike 1
  2. Chris says:

    Paraquito bay is where the college is with all their bathroom facilities. Why not put in a good sewage treatment plant to treat all the waste and then use the products, both liquid for nutritional water and the solids for fertilizer.
    At the olde yard in VG we water all our planting with this water and even have a couple of people growing vegetables on te property with this water .
    Time to think about the recycling benefits of all this sewage like other countries do . That can be free water for the farmers.

  3. Lies says:

    Name 3 who have any solid tours for tourists being promoted.

    Like 9
    Dislike 1
  4. Ausar says:

    And while you farmers are at it, use your grounds, as a sort of a learning-to-eat- of the culture.. types of tours, so to speak!

    Walking tours, tasting of local fruits, and vegetables,where possible,-types of tours, and so forth..

    But there must be adequate restroom facilities,and/or hand-sanitizing stations, where one can take care of human needs!

  5. Dream on says:

    Farms as a tourist attraction???

    Guessing that 90% of tourists in the BVI are NOT physically fit enough to walk around and enjoy the various farms in the mountains of Tortola, VG and JVD.

    Sorry but farms may be an attraction for mountain hiking tourists but not for the majority of older, heavier tourists in the BVI.

    Like 3
    Dislike 1
  6. Hmm says:

    What you have accomplished over the past 12 months… only cultural thursdee and Fish Fry Fridee … really!

  7. Some of the same farmers says:

    Mr Dawson can you please go and sit on a hot rock!! You are a waste of time to the ministry and Agriculture!!

  8. Failure says:

    So what you are saying is agriculture is a failure. Farmers cannot be successful here so we need to try something else.

  9. maria louisa varlack says:

    invest in carnival cruise lines and in disney cruise lines and create a disney theme park in the british virgin islands to improve the tourism and hotel and restaurant industry and to improve the economy of the british virgin islands.

  10. Well... says:

    If this is the likes of a former college dean/president then I have no words at all.

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