Last Updated on November 8, 2024, 3:53 AM AST by Anthony Morris
St Kitts and Nevis: The first batch of TABASCO Pepper Seedlings have been planted at the Fahies Estate in Newton Ground on Wednesday, marking the official launch of the Department of Agriculture TABASCO Pepper Experimental Plot Project.
This new Pepper Experimental Plot Project is a groundbreaking partnership of the Government of St Kitts and Nevis with the globally renowned TABASCO Brand.
This collaboration forms part of the Sustainable Economic Expansion and Diversification (SEED) initiative. This initiative is a forward-thinking government program which is aimed at shifting St Kitts and Nevis away from dependency on the Citizenship by Investment (CBI) program and towards sustainable agriculture and local food production.
Through the SEED initiative, the St Kitts Government also strives to diversify the economy, reduce dependency on external income sources, and strengthen food security for the generations ahead.
The Minister of Agriculture, Samal Duggins took his official Facebook account to shed light on this groundbreaking partnership and noted that it signals the start of what could be the nation’s largest crop export since sugar.
He mentioned that this initiative is not just about peppers but about the promise of a resilient, self-sufficient economy built on the soil of St Kitts and Nevis. Through the SEED initiative, the focus is turning to the land, prioritizing sustainable, local food production, and positioning the farmers for access to global markets.
Minister Samal Duggins also extended gratitude to Prime Minister Dr Terrance Drew and the SKNLP-led Government for their support. He said that with their support, the agriculture department is fostering sustainable economic growth and bringing agriculture back to the forefront of the nation’s future.
PM Terrance Drew delivered a speech on the launch where he said that through this initiative, St Kitts and Nevis can look forward to increased agricultural productivity, the creation of new jobs, and a more solid economy capable of opposing global economic pressures.
Notably, the other speakers at the launch were Dr Ashton Stanley, the Advisor in the Ministry of Agriculture, and Ian Chapman, the Crop Program Leader. The Deputy Director at the Department of Agriculture, Alphonso Shawn Clarke chaired the ceremony.
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.
