PHOTOS: Agriculture & Fisheries Month kicks off

The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries launched Agriculture and Fisheries Month on Sunday, March 9, with a series of events at Paraquita Bay.

The Agriculture and Fisheries Exhibition Grounds came alive with local competitions, including lime-and-spoon, the three-legged race, strongman and strongwoman challenges, tug-of-war, and four donkey races. The event also featured a “skin the wife” competition, where participants raced to clean the old wife fish. Mr. Parsons from Paraquita Bay emerged as the winner.

Attendees enjoyed animal displays, locally grown produce, farm animals, and competitions showcasing herbs and fruit displays. Families, children, and community members engaged in activities, while local businesses and farmers showcased their skills and products.

Junior Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries Karl Dawson highlighted the significance of agriculture and announced plans to host public consultations on the Agricultural Policy in April.

“With the Ministry team, we expect to hold public consultations in April, where we will share the Agriculture and Fisheries Plan,” Dawson stated.

He outlined key objectives of the plan, including:

• Ensuring access to safe and healthy food, whether locally produced or imported.
• Encouraging agriculture and fisheries as viable careers and business enterprises.
• Strengthening the legal and regulatory framework for industry growth.
• Securing and protecting land and marine spaces for agricultural and fisheries development.

Premier Dr. Natalio Wheatley, who also holds responsibility for agriculture and fisheries, emphasized the urgency of food security, citing global challenges such as tariff wars in the US and the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

“We must acknowledge the urgency of the moment. We need a strong food production engine that can supply our needs in times of disaster,” he stated.

He pointed out that the territory imports over 90 percent of its food, a situation that has significantly weakened the local industry.

“Our industry, which was once very strong, is perhaps at the lowest level it has been in our history,” he noted.

Commending Dawson’s leadership, the Premier added: “The Junior Minister has taken the vision of what needs to be done, and he is running with it.”

Agriculture and Fisheries Month will continue with exhibitions on the sister islands throughout March. The next event is scheduled for Saturday, March 15, on Virgin Gorda.