(Following is the full text of the World Food Day 2018 Address of Saint Lucia’s Agriculture Minister Ezechiel Joseph.)
LET me take this opportunity to wish every stakeholder in the Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry sectors a successful World Food Day 2018. This day is celebrated every year around the world on October 16. The Theme for this year’s celebration is: “Our Actions are Our Future and A Zero Hunger World by 2030 is Possible”.
This Theme speaks to the negative effects we are experiencing right now from Climate Change which can impact our ability to meet our objective of a Zero Hunger World.
Despite the many challenges we are faced with, the leadership within the Department of Agriculture has developed and are implementing programmes to tackle the issue of food security for St. Lucia while at the same time addressing the theme of this World Food Day’s celebration.
We are seeing:
Increases in productivity in the agriculture sector;
1. Cabinet has approved the proposed option for the restructured St. Lucia Marketing Board and St. Lucia Fish Marketing Corporation;
2. With the support of the government of Taiwan, very soon we shall commence a three-year import substitution programme. The objective is to reduce the importation of seven vegetables we believe that can be grown on a sustainable basis in St. Lucia, namely: tomatoes, sweet peppers, cucumbers, lettuce, cabbages, watermelons and pineapples.
3. We will see very soon the opening of the National Diagnostic Facility at Union, which will be home to two Units of the Division of Agriculture and the Metrology Unit of the Saint Lucia Bureau of Standards (SLBS). The facility will provide technical and analytical services to agriculture and the other major economic and productive sectors.
4. We are in the process of reviewing the Agriculture Incentives Act. My Ministry believes that there is a need to amend Section of the Act. This would make the application process smoother and faster.
5. It is necessary to note that we have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Cuba and the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries, Natural Resources and Co-operatives establishing a general framework of Technical Cooperation in Agriculture matters.
As we celebrate World Food Day this year, Agro-Processing and Value Added will be the area of focus.
In light of this we are expected to continue:
I. Empowering groups/individuals regarding their involvement in Agro-Processing.
II. Encouraging the utilisation of local grown foods and forest products will:
i) Improve the livelihood of participants;
ii) And increase the demand for their production.
In keeping with our area of focus and to contradict the misinformation out there, let it be known that the government has established Agro processing facilities in Fond Assau and Anse Ger.
We are also supporting many private individuals with the establishment of their own facility by providing capacity-building to processors and students at various schools.
In closing, I would like to wish our most valued farmers, fisher folk, agro-processors and citizens in general a happy and productive World Food Day 2018, as you joined the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries, Natural Resources and Co-operatives and the international community in celebrating World Food Day 2018.
I thank you.