INVESTMENT IN WOMEN IS IMPORTANT TO THE OVERALL SUCCESS OF THE AGRICULTURAL SECTOR

Basseterre, St. Kitts, March 09, 2022 (SKNIS): The Ministry of Agriculture’s new mandate of investing in women in areas of technology to support greater production and training will be important to the overall success of the agricultural sector of St. Kitts and Nevis. 

This was stated by Minister of Agriculture, the Honourable Alexis Jeffers during the annual ‘Advancing Women in Agriculture Forum’ hosted by the Department of Agriculture on March 08 at the Agriculture Conference Room. 

In laying out the ministry’s plan to further invest in women, the honourable minister said, “We will address our land issue for women in agriculture; we will provide assistance for our women to receive the necessary equipment and implements to increase your production; [and] we will provide training in more innovative methods of farming and agriculture.”

He continued, “We have established that green-house technology and shade houses are the way to go in agriculture in the Federation, and as such we will make these technologies available to as many women who are interested in pursuing greenhouse production or shade house production as well.”

“Special extension and advisory services will also form part of our agricultural support to women and the support will enable women to understand the market and how it operates and it will enable them to know the needs of the market both in products, quality and volume,” said the minister. 

He added also that the Ministry of Agriculture intends to support women “to change the mindset of farmers and farming to plant for the market instead of producing and then think about the market thereafter.” 

The minister continued, “Through our women’s programme, we will seek to expand women’s knowledge and skill set in the sector for better production.” He stated that the Ministry of Agriculture is doing this to ensure that support mechanisms for women in the agro-business sector are available. 

Minister Jeffers stated that this year, the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis intends to further empower the women who have already entered the agro-processing space and ensure that the support infrastructure is in place to provide that sustainability in agro-processing. 
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