New Senior Minister and Minister of Agriculture to present plans

BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, MARCH 4TH 2010 (CUOPM) – Newly-appointed Senior Minister and Minister of Agriculture, Dr. the Hon. Timothy Harris will outline plans and programmes for increasing food production and articulate a role for agriculture in the stability and transformation of the economy of St. Kitts and Nevis.

The Senior Minister is no stranger to the agricultural sector, having served as the Minister of Agriculture, Lands and Housing in the First Labour Party Labour administration that served over the period 1995-2000.

A release from the Ministry of Agriculture said that Dr. Harris spearheaded the revitalisation of the livestock sector which was then suffering from a tropical bont tick disease.

He began the decentralization of agricultural support services to rural communities and established Outreach Centres at Tabernacle and Fahies. Tabernacle and Con Phipps were designated for Livestock Development Centres and long term leasehold agreements for farmers were pursued.

“Dr. Harris pursued cooperation with stakeholders and presided over the launch of what was to become an Annual Celebration of Agriculture Day and recognition of farmers,” said the statement.

It said that the Director of Agriculture, Mr Ashton Stanley will provide an overview of the performance of the agricultural sector for 2009 and the expected outcomes for 2010. Programme leaders are also expected to make a presentation.

Agriculture stakeholders including CARDI, IICA, the Republic of China on Taiwan, and the Embassy of Venezuela, are expected to be represented at the opening session.