Sustainable farming the way forward for BVI, says local farmer
By Kamal Haynes, BVI News Staff
A local farmer is calling for the government to heavily invest in sustainable farming as he believes it is the solution to solving some of the existing issues in the territory.
Referred to as Farmer Bongo, the Virgin Gorda resident told BVI News that once properly planned and instituted, sustainable farming can remedy the increasing crime in the territory and assist the economy with rebounding post-COVID-19.
“The government needs to build water reservoirs on each sister island and secure 10 acres of ground covered irrigated land on each island. There will need to be approximately 2,000 labourers to cultivate cash crops and long-term crops. These crops will also need to be a mix of crops to ensure provision of full nutrients such as protein and herbs to create medicine,” Farmer Bongo.
“Just as we are paying to import food into the country, it can now flip where we profit from exporting, feeding other countries as well as our own, instead of experiencing a loss in order to feed our own communities. With this in place, we can expect the government will profit no less than four million every year,” he added.
Make farming appealing to youth
Farmer Bongo said he believes a profitable sustainable farming industry can exist in the BVI if more is done to make farming a more attractive for younger generations.
“There should be more emphasis placed on teaching children about sustainable farming to have an increase in desire for the occupation. When the government supplies the needs of legally registered commercial farmers in the BVI and children come for school or club tours, they will be more inspired to join the workforce and increase the capital flow,” he stated.
Prisoners should be included in plan
He also said programmes should be incorporated for those incarcerated to allow them to volunteer their prison hours into farming throughout selected districts.
The sister island farmer said he believes this method would help to deter persons from participating in criminal activities.
“If they also include a plan to have inmates mandated to farm and take simple farming classes during the time incarcerated, it can help reduce the cost of feeding themselves and the excess harvested provisions can be donated to local food markets or as free food packages for those in need. Why have people sitting around as punishment when they have wronged the community? They should still be in service to the same community they have wronged,” he stated.
“This may encourage many people to stop or even lessen the crimes committed and simply just join a farming team. With there being a project this large, local people are secured jobs indefinitely and can also result in less crimes. They will not feel the need to traffic drugs for money, or prostitute for money, or reduce themselves to being thieves,” he explained.
READ: The farming programme that already exists at HMP
Plea to government for assistance
The local farmer also said he had reached out to the government regarding the assistance he needed for his farming operations on Virgin Gorda.
And after not receiving any further correspondence after speaking to his district representative in 2019, the community of Virgin Gorda came to his rescue to assist where possible.
“We have been working with what we had and making the best of our growth. It is thanks to the supportive donations from community members and volunteer labourers that we have been able to continue to grow our farm,” he stated.
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Bongo na lyin. Agrikulture for real!
The Belonger is not going to do farming. That requires work!! The Belonger is a lazy person. Remember the Belonger is a descendent of the slaves no other island wanted. They will hire expats to work and steal their pay, collect taxes and insurance and steal that also.
Stupid. Belonger is not a race and the people who have been here from donkey years are decedents of the people who survived the harsh realities of slavery which wiped out the amerindians.
Your ignorance is astounding… you clearly don’t know what you are talking about and you just want to come on here and bash belongers.
How many locals will want to toil in sun to do this?? Give farming land to the expats and you will see the reward after.
Go fly a kite from talking P**s!
I will still say HOW MANY locals will want to do that what this Great man is doing?
I am not talking p..s. Many farms in pari are planted by expats or persons who used to be expat even greenland.
And Carrot Bay?
Absolutely not!!!!! How about we teach the children and young adults how to farm and integrate it more into the culture. You said GIVE farm land to expats? I used to be an expat there and I feel you are very wrong. Why do expats deserve land that rightfully belongs to locals????? U stay deh wit dat idea. Farmer Bongo is the father of my son and he is teaching my son everything he know so he can then pass it to his youths. Giving VG land to expats will never happen!!!!! And if the government ever tried it I pray the locals will protest.
You said what expat do to deserve it. If you sayvyou were an expat What did you do to deserve your present status??
There can work the land no problem…bvi islander work ur head..keep it bongo good prevails
Yes they can if but HOW MANY will want to do it is the question. With all those empty land in BVI if all owners were to be likecthis man don’t you think BVI will import less vegetables and fruits. This man is doing a good job but many other dont want to do farming thats why we have so many empty land with bushes.
Agriculture is the main source for our basic survival need. Nuff raspect to d farmers them. We appreciate you.
What about the water up paraquita bay side for the farmers for months now they can’t get no water
How many locals are planting there. Its just a question ok.
What I find funny is that “Bongo” wants everyone to be a farmer just like all vegans want usto be vegans.
The world would stop,no money would change hands and everybody would just stayon their farm.
Its a joke, people only see their vision,yet if everyone chose to follow the BVI economy would clause, but hey we could all become Rastas
Farming is not for everyone but whomever is interested in that aspect the point is it will be available if the government is smart enough to proceed with it. Just like Bankers, corporate jobs..not everyone wants to be behind a stuffy desk or serve at a restaurant. Keep pushing for us BONGO. You have been telling us this for years!!!
Keep going Bungo, blessed love King .