Last Updated on February 25, 2021, 2:48 AM AST by Anthony Morris
St Kitts and Nevis: The Coronavirus pandemic has threatened many aspects of human life, and food security is no exception. Through sustainable agriculture, farmers can provide a constant supply of healthy, nutritious food, whether meat or fruit and vegetables, for public use. This was made clear on ‘Working for You‘ on Wednesday, 24 February, which focused on the theme, Sustainable Agriculture in Challenging Times.
Ian Chapman, crop program leader in the Department of Agriculture, said: ‘A sustainable agricultural support approach to our ministry will ensure that our food system becomes more productive. The Covid-19 pandemic has challenged our farmers, and to find new ways to create or improve our nutrition and our market opportunities, we need to change and balance the way food is produced here in the Federation. ‘
He added that the production of local crops and the harvesting of local meat help eliminate the unhealthy chemicals placed on imported food to preserve it until it falls into consumers’ hands. The availability of locally grown food ensures a healthier food supply to meet the citizens’ needs for food and nutrition. It also reduces the fear that citizens may experience about food unavailability due to the Covid19 import and export challenges.
According to Chapman, it “promotes our healthy diets to strengthen our immune system.” Unhealthy eating habits have far-reaching consequences that outweigh the individual and strain the public health system. The panelists agreed that healthy eating reduces the incidence of non-communicable diseases, such as diabetes and hypertension, associated with the consumption of unhealthy foods.
Chapman said one of the most important initiatives by the Department of Agriculture to promote healthy eating habits is the “Farmers Agricultural Assistance Program which will help farmers increase their productivity.”
Further support by the Department of Agriculture to promote food security and healthy eating habits, as noted by Director Melvin James, focused on preserving livestock’s lives through the Tick Prevention Program. He said that “we could make good progress with our tick control program, in our pest control and disease identification …”
Over the years, the Tick Prevention program, which began in 2018, has made a significant contribution to livestock conservation. By drawing a parallel to show the program’s effectiveness, James said that the presence of ticks on the animals affects not only the skin of the animals but also their survival. He remarked: ‘We had about 1230 animals we lost; 308 goats, 290 sheep, and worse, infected cattle, more than 600 cattle. By taking the initiative, the department was able to reduce the presence of ticks on the animals and the mortality rate, which ensures the safety of meat for local residents’ consumption.
Anthony Morris covers stories related to politics and regional developments. His in-depth reporting about governance and reforms makes him stand out in regional journalism, with a deep analysis of political trends and their impact on Caribbean communities.
