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UWI, Cave Hill to LEAD the Charge to Revive Agriculture Sector

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The press report did not list minister of Agriculture David Estwick as among the officials present when the announcement was made this week by Professor Eudene Barriteau.

Professor Eudene Barriteau, Principal of the UWI, Cave Hill campus committed the Cave Hill campus to developing 30 acres of land that was donated to the university by the Edghills of Dukes plantation in St. Thomas a couple years ago. According to the report USD34 million will be spent to develop an agri-business creating 1500 jobs, a break from the trend of planting concrete on arable land in Barbados. Further, the entity will be designed to facilitate training and research for the Caribbean region. One could hear the enthusiasm for the venture by Principal Barriteau as she shared details about what promises to be a transformative project.

The project is to kickoff mid-next year!

She said the project, which is expected to take about two years to complete, would also accelerate the thrust towards greater self-sustainability in food production and food security with a significant portion of the almost 30 acres of land being set aside as agricultural parcels for farming. In addition, the park will accommodate agro-processing and meat-curing facilities, a chocolate manufacturing and training facility, cotton processing facilities, a food standards laboratory, a sewerage plant treatment and recreational spaces…

The project is being funded by the Government of Barbados through its bilateral aid programme with the People’s Republic of China.

Barbados Today

This is good news indeed to observe the premier learning institution in Barbados leading the charge to resuscitate the agriculture sector. The economic pundits have all slammed the door of Barbados pursuing agriculture because of high production costs. We will monitor the debate with interest.

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106 responses to “UWI, Cave Hill to LEAD the Charge to Revive Agriculture Sector”

  1. Hants Avatar
    Hants

    Go and buy some fruit trees.

    http://www.agriculture.gov.bb/agri/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=215%3Asale-of-plants&Itemid=77

    Buy some vegetable seedlings

    Located in Gibbons Boggs, Ch.Ch., we offer a full range of vegetable seedlings, herb seedlings, and annual flower seedlings. We produce the Seedburst Soilless Potting Mix and an organic compost. Come visit us or go to one of our many outlets. Seedlings are available at Carters General Stores Wildey, Barbarees Hill, High St., Lower Estate or Garden and Equipment in Green Hill, St.Michael.

    https://www.facebook.com/seedburst/

  2. Hants Avatar
    Hants

    https://www.homedepot.ca/en/home/p.1000701455.html?eid=PS_GOOGLE_HD+%7C+PLAs_Shopping+%7C+Outdoors_All+Outdoors_pla-275019757846&gclid=CjwKCAjwgvfOBRB7EiwAeP7ehhu2pcP_lqkwyy2IhK_skCt5ExDVXTPpc2ue5A28Ye2oCCNmALFVqxoCyOsQAvD_BwE

  3. NorthernObserver Avatar
    NorthernObserver

    It is inappropriate to knock people for trying, and after all they were GIVEN the land, so they own it. Other than the 2 green monkey highlighted, we have several vegetable operations which do very well. There is money in planting the right crops.
    I know the UWI like government probably has plenty bureaucracy, and the consultants will be begging for a piece. Yet maybe the Chinese, or other universities can help. McGill has a very advanced hydroponics type set-up, I believe in concert with Israel.
    There is no reason Bim cannot produce quality products. And if subsidized imports flood the market, slap a duty in their ass? We just have to make sure we have the quality, before protecting a group.

  4. David Avatar
    David

    There is Armstrong who grows the sweet potatoes who is surviving?

  5. Pachamama Avatar
    Pachamama

    Northern

    You are partly wrong

    Barbados no longer has the national sovereignty to exclusively decide import duties, tariffs.

    Because of membership of the dominant trading regimes

    In fact, the imposition on duties/tariffs on most agricultural products could result in a WTO legal action by the exporting country.

  6. Pachamama Avatar
    Pachamama

    Northern

    When we are talking about feeding a nation, a region, a different set of orders of magnitude must be considered.

    These must include an abundance of water, Barbados is a water scarce island, with limited arable land.

    Another blogger early suggested what Barrow, Williams and Burhnam since the Treaty of Chaguaramus had planned – that Guyana, the land of water, be the bread basket. And there is no avoiding this.

    And while Barbados can do some agriculture we have never been convinced that the desired levels of efficiencies could be mustered in order to eliminate the massive food import bill.

  7. vincent haynesw Avatar
    vincent haynesw

    Greenhouses…. Aquaponics….. Reduces water use.

  8. Simple Simon Avatar
    Simple Simon

    I wish this project well. I hope that actual farmers can learn from it and can use the knowledge to grow more and better food. I grew up in a small farming community and I still love to produce at least some of my own food. At present I am self sufficient in okras, spinach, avocadoes, sweet potatoes, and butternut squash. I added yams this year. Healthy organic food, excellent exercise, good companionship, and a food bill that is nice and small.

    JUST DO IT.

  9. angela Skeete Avatar
    angela Skeete

    I wish this project well but as usual barbados is twenty years behind
    Organic farming has grown at rapid speed world wide. The slow speed by which our intellectuals proceed would always be a hindrance in our development to grow productivily and economically as the rest of the world moves ahead

  10. racehrse Avatar
    racehrse

    There is nothing wrong with teaching young students who are interested in agriculture. But, you have to create a market showing profitability. That market is controlled by just a few Barbadians. The agricultural society just preaches no exports, when exports actually cost less then local. You need a balance of the two with less regulation by the government, and influence by big business. You would have chaos if you tried to bring a Walmart or a Home Depot here.

  11. racehrse Avatar
    racehrse

    Clarification………………replace “export” with IMPORTS…………..sorry!

  12. William Skinner Avatar
    William Skinner

    @ Simple Simon
    Thanks for wishing the venture well. The
    university is often justifiably criticized for
    doing nothing innovative. Most of the
    comments carry merit but let us get a more
    comprehensive understanding of the project
    before we declare it DOA.
    @ Hal
    The 4 H clubs, in their present format will
    be unattractive to our kids. We need to
    have a progressive agriculture program
    in our primary schools. Schools that have
    the land, should get students involved in
    cooperative farming to actually finance some
    of the schools’ programs. Future citizens
    must be exposed to the earning potential
    of agriculture, fishing, horticulture etc.
    In this way they will see a future.
    Please let us not make the mistake of
    believing that only non-academically
    students should be exposed to such
    programs.
    I wish the project well.

  13. Vincent Haynes Avatar
    Vincent Haynes

    4-H clubs can be formatted to suit any purpose or endeavour.

  14. millertheanunnaki Avatar
    millertheanunnaki

    @ Vincent Haynes October 11, 2017 at 1:35 PM
    “The future of Ag. lies with our communities and its young people and the 4-H clubs are a worthwhile vehicle to use to achieve it.
    This UWI Ag. project seems not to have the support of the Min of Ag.,I wonder why?
    I have indicated the number of agencies involved in Ag. presently operating in Bim and we know that the Ag. college is located in T&T,so other than optimising the production of quality black sheep hides,which is supported by COW,what other purpose will this new entity serve.”

    As a person quite au fait with the trials and tribulations of non-sugar agri-business (having like many in their altruism, lost thousands of their savings in the Agro-processing project at Fairy Valley) you can bet that unless this project can have the buy-in and support of the likes of Massy and Chefette then this project would go the same way as the same Agro-processing project.

    If CLICO with its 2,000 odd idle acres could not make a hand of its Kinch’s Wakefield takeover why would the Cave Hill the new kid on the agricultural block as a reincarnation of CARDI be a game changer to the Bajan economy?

    The hemp agricultural research project (as you recommend) appears more appropriate for the Cave Hill gurus to focus on as a leading institution in the use of herbs in the healing of the nation and as a new-age enterprise to make John ‘Redman’ Bovell a real genius in agronomy and his black buggy chauffeur a proud son of the oil.

    Let the GoB first show the UWI the money like the promise to the CLICO policyholders and then you might just want to throw your agricultural dreams where the professorial principal’s mouth is frothing.

    The only game-changer in this whole agricultural / agri-business scenario is when the forex tank runs very, very low and choices and trade-offs have to be made between imported medicines for the fast-growing diabetic and hypertensive population and the same disease-causing processed food and drink.

  15. Hal Austin Avatar
    Hal Austin

    @ William,
    You are right to a certain extent, but the challenge is to bring the objectives of 4-H clubs in to the 21st century. In the 1950s St Giles had vegetable gardens, which I see they no longer have. They fitted in with the introduction to biology we were doing. Some of us also took ideas from the classroom home and tried them out – planting corn, sugar cane butts, sweet potatoes, etc. I also had to feed the chickens and turkeys, and clean out the pig pen before going to school in Waterford..
    In all this, we must remember the mission of a university is two-fold: teaching and research. It is not the role of the university to play at farming. It is not their job to feed the hungry masses in a literal sense. Yes, it is to feed people, but by educating them.

  16. Nostradamus Avatar
    Nostradamus

    https://barbadosunderground.wordpress.com/2014/04/16/prime-minister-freundel-stuarts-vision-for-agriculture/comment-page-1/

    THE RT. HON. FREUNDEL J. STUART, Q.C., M.P.PRIME MINISTER TO THE BARBADOS AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY SEMINAR“AGRICULTURE: A VISION FOR THE FUTURE” ON WEDNESDAY, APRIL 16, 2014

    Quotes from above address:

    “……….Dr. Chelston W. D. Brathwaite former Director General of the Inter American Institute for Agricultural Sciences (IICA), who, as Chairman of the National Agricultural Commission, carried out extensive research on the future of agriculture. Then with the assistance of IICA, his team put together a detailed document containing essential information for a White Paper on Agriculture.”

    “…….“…….the document was presented to the Cabinet in November last year, as a Draft National Agricultural Policy paper entitled: “A Vision for the Future of Agriculture in Barbados”.

    PM said in his address that the white paper was presented to Cabinet in November 2013. This is October 2017, 4 years later. Will the public ever see this document or will the Minister and PM just continue to refer to it in speeches and the public never get sight of it? Is it a secret classified document? Are the policies outlined in the policy paper being considered? Executed?

  17. Hal Austin Avatar
    Hal Austin

    Vincent Haynes October 11, 2017 at 4:37 PM #

    It was under Barrow that Town and Country Planning planned out the keeping of domestic animals. The new black middle class did not want neighbours keeping chickens, sheep and goats. They preferred to buy their frozen lamb imported from New Zealand, or their chicken from Brazil.
    The father of independence failed the nation.

  18. David Avatar
    David

    Next week is world food week. Let us build momentum!

  19. NorthernObserver Avatar
    NorthernObserver

    @Pacha
    You have to crawl before you walk? We must try. And if you travel to places like Israel, you will find similarly arid and challenging environments, but they make it work. Even if we cut the food import bill by 25%, that is progress.
    We have an unfortunate agricultural past, sugar and slavery. Yet modern methods offer opportunity. A good living, for which there will always be a demand.

    And the WTO? What a neutered body. Plus who gives a shit, when you have no exports, something to provoke retaliation.
    The last US administration instead of placing duties, removed excise and other levies on rums from US territories. Same thing. Preferential advantage. There are many ways to skin a cat.

    David, there are several in St.George.

  20. Pachamama Avatar
    Pachamama

    David

    You mind these people, man

    They will tell us about ‘world food day’ with one face

    And with others, will do everything possible to starve us out

    To disrupt natural, traditional, food networks

    Insert poisons, distribute food lacking proper nutrients, GMOs, transport food all around the earth and so on

    World Food Day is a celebration, like Christmas, for the business interests controlling the food industry.

  21. Pachamama Avatar
    Pachamama

    Northern

    The WTO, if they can’t get yuh on a direct trading situation they could attached their rulings to other assets. Trading involves financial assets as well, not just commodities. The WTO is essentially a court.

    Yes we must try. But we also known the Bajan mind well. And if you leave any room for any importation at all, we will end up where we are right now, 20 years on.

    We have to do this cold turkey. That’s the only way to transform this situation. Half measures would not work. We have been there already with Carmeta Fraser (rest in peace) and Branford Taitt.

  22. Vincent Haynes Avatar
    Vincent Haynes

    Miller

    We are spinning top in mud as usual…..the only purpose for this operation from what has been shown is the advancement of COWs black belly sheep hide project……have no problem with that,except that they should come out upfront and say so.

    We need a number of things to happen in order for agriculture to move forward in this country starting with schedules for all registered farmers with a set price to be payed for their produce…..then we need Ag. insurance…..remove taxes off of greenhouses,aquaponic and solar inputs…….thats a start,more to come.

  23. Simple Simon Avatar
    Simple Simon

    @Hal Austin 4:37 yesterday. Actually most countries forbid the keeping of chickens and pigs in densely populated areas because of the dangers of influenza transmission from pigs and fowl to people. That said Barbados is self sufficient in chicken, both for local and visitor consumption.

  24. Simple Simon Avatar
    Simple Simon

    Correction: Hal Austin 12:04 today

  25. Hants Avatar
    Hants

    http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/backyard-chicken-pilot-1.4317741

  26. millertheanunnaki Avatar
    millertheanunnaki

    @ Simple Simon October 12, 2017 at 2:11 PM
    “@Hal Austin 4:37 yesterday. Actually most countries forbid the keeping of chickens and pigs in densely populated areas because of the dangers of influenza transmission from pigs and fowl to people. That said Barbados is self sufficient in chicken, both for local and visitor consumption..”

    So how come you did not find those backyard farming activities dangerous when you were growing up in those halcyon good old days of no need for “motta” cars only Federal or Rocklyn wooden-bus transport?

    What happens when persons become unemployed through no fault of their own and do not want to go on public assistance either out of pride or fiscal considerations (sucking too hard on the taxpayers’ nipples)?

    Should they just up sticks and walk to the countryside to raise chickens and rabbits to obtain a first-hand source of protein? Or would you prefer them to give the better-off from the Heights, Terraces and Gardens blow jobs on Bush Hill or sell their donkeys in town for a Chefette or KFC snack box?

  27. Hal Austin Avatar
    Hal Austin

    Simple Simon,
    Not most countries. Most developed countries. Even that is questionable. Urban farms are very popular with school children in London.

  28. Simple Simon Avatar
    Simple Simon

    Yes Hants. I was aware of the Toronto decision. But please note that there will be frequent inspections and that Toronto has the capacity to carry out such inspections. No miller your suggestions add nothing positive to the discussion. Hal I should have said many countries not all or most. But the reason still stands. It is a flu prevention strategy. However yes indeed some, many, maybe most?bajans are poor great poppets.

  29. millertheanunnaki Avatar
    millertheanunnaki

    @ Simple Simon October 12, 2017 at 7:18 PM

    Simple S, you still have not addressed the ‘burningly’ hungry issue of the unemployed and others not in receipt of a steady source of income having access to ready sources of protein other than through praedial larcency.

    Would you then settle for the keeping of rabbits with those living in the ‘terraces and gardens’ having to turn their manicured lawns into warrens and vegetable beds thereby killing two birds with one hoe or fork?

    These questions are posed in the sincerest of manner given what is happening with people either unable to find work or losing their jobs against an ever expanding background of the rising cost of living caused primarily by a downward spiralling economy hastened by a series of unending internal devaluation measures (NSRL to set your thoughts in motion) and the fear that an external downward adjustment of the local currency peg would really throw the proverbial hungry cats among the yard-fowls being raised behind the Central Bank.

  30. Tudor Avatar
    Tudor

    I believe this to be a wonderful idea which i fear will be a lesson in futility as no post Independence Govt in Barbados has had any real interest in agriculture .

  31. Hal Austin Avatar
    Hal Austin

    Tudor,
    May I add a new dimension to this discussion – the introduction of futures derivatives in commodities. Basically, if an enterprising individual or organisation bought sufficient land in Dominica or Guyana on which to grow food, an equally enterprising Barbadian businessperson or organisation can contract to buy all or most of the produce at a set date in the future (there is no need to pay in advance) and at an agreed price.
    With that contract the landowner/farmer could raise funds from the credit market to work the farm, with the knowledge that payment for the produce will be made at an agreed future date.
    With such relative certainty it means the land owner could work his/her land and the buyer without the stress of worrying about the volatility of the commodities markets.

  32. Sargeant Avatar
    Sargeant

    This is coming through the assistance of the People’s Republic of China, China is also involved in every African country, yet……

    https://mobile.nytimes.com/2017/10/13/world/asia/china-racist-museum-exhibit.html?referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F

  33. Hal Austin Avatar
    Hal Austin

    China, the Middle East, Australia and India are all involved in producing food in Africa. We have hungry Africans working on farms to produce food for over-fed Arabs. Yet when it sis suggested that Guyana – which is bigger than England – can be the food basket for Caricom some Bajans, comfortably off in North America, are saying it is not a good idea.

  34. Sargeant Avatar
    Sargeant

    @Hal
    Can’t move on? I have earned the right to be comfortably off in North America (as well as Bim when I’m there). The article stated that a Chinese museum had an exhibit which compared Black people to animals, you should take the time to read it.

    BTW you also suggested that the project be moved to Dominica which is 308 sq miles and mountainous, were you also saying that Dominica could satisfy the food needs of the Caribbean too?

  35. Vincent Haynes Avatar
    Vincent Haynes

    Sargeant October 13, 2017 at 11:24 AM #

    Its been deemed to be, by the power that be, to be fake news……can you show its provenance…..show us comments from at least 2 credible world sources.

  36. William Skinner Avatar
    William Skinner

    @Hal et al
    Remember that business tycoon
    Kevin Simpson has already invested
    in a huge agriculture project in Guyana.
    I have not heard anything about it
    recently

  37. Sargeant Avatar
    Sargeant

    @Vincent Haynes

    What fake news? What are you talking about?

  38. Tudor Avatar
    Tudor

    There is land available for lease in Guyana, approx a 1000 acres per lot, and there is no doubt in my mind that Dominica St. Lucia St. Vincent can grow and supply enough fruit and veg to feed the Caribbean, and T&T & Jamaica are not factored in to the equation.

    In my days traveling the Caribbean on business it used to amaze and disappoint me to see the citrus fruit rotting on the ground while in Barbados we imported from Florida etc. one of the problems was transportation and LIAT was no help what so ever in assisting with this problem.

  39. millertheanunnaki Avatar
    millertheanunnaki

    @ Vincent HaynesOctober 12, 2017 at 1:17 PM
    “We are spinning top in mud as usual…..the only purpose for this operation from what has been shown is the advancement of COWs black belly sheep hide project……have no problem with that,except that they should come out upfront and say so.
    We need a number of things to happen in order for agriculture to move forward in this country starting with schedules for all registered farmers with a set price to be payed for their produce…..then we need Ag. insurance…..remove taxes off of greenhouses,aquaponic and solar inputs…….thats a start,more to come.”

    It seems the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) has ‘proactively’ contracted-out its responsibilities for agri-business in Bim.

    With a whittled-down MoA what would that 16 odd doctors in Agriculture be doing other than pushing paper?

    Is it possible for them to be contracted-out to the same UWI from where they were born and bred?

    That Ministry- although crucial to the future survival of the country- has always been seen in the post-Independence Barbados as a dumping ground for politicians and their hacks either as surplus to requirements or naughty rebellious boys in the Cabinet in need of good discipline like the neutered Pitbull Estwick.

    Why not make a woman the next MoA to see if she would be fertile and fruitful enough to bring about the change in direction the country requires as its international business sector comes under heavy manners from the Canadian tax police and on its way to be sent to Coventry in the Bajan economic desert?

    Please, Dear Ceres, let that person be a lover and patron of ‘Herb’!

  40. Hal Austin Avatar
    Hal Austin

    Tudor,
    In the old days we had schooners ferrying produce between the islands and anyone walking down the wharf would have seen people busy loading and offloading fresh fruit. Apart from LIAT, a commercial failure, we still have not worked out transportation between the islands.
    In the early 1960s the British gave the Federation three ships, whatever happened to them? Have they ever been replaced?
    @Sargeant, have you ever been to Dominica. Again, a delegation once went from Barbados to negotiate Barbadians settling in Dominica; we have also sent people to cut canes in Dominica.

  41. islandgal Avatar
    islandgal

    I welcome the UWI project and wish them well. The Ministry of Agriculture should have changed their name to Ministry of non agriculture. For the past 40 years they have been the biggest pests standing in the way of true agriculture development on this island. Not only have they frustrated farmers, but their lack of knowledge and reluctance to introduce new crops and improved ways of farming has done the island great harm. The passion for agriculture has been stifled and will take a gigantic effort to revitalize it.

    Take a trip down to Haggatts, an almost empty nursery, workers sitting by idly with very little to do yet the guard at the gate demands to know where the plants are going to when leaving. I asked why does he have to know, he said that was part of his job. I told him I can give any parish on the island and he wouldn’t be any the wiser and it is really none of his business where I am going to plant my trees after I have paid for them. This stupidity is prolific in many government run institutions. Imagine it is forbidden to enter the nursery to choose the plant you want, they will bring one for you to purchase, after which you have to travel a mile to the cashier to pay then take it back to the nursery to get the receipt signed and plant delivered, the go t the gate and state where on the island you are taking them. Many fruit trees are not available and when I ask why they say that is all they have and can’t do anything about it. The fields that were once planted with Cherries, mangoes and carambolas are in a state of decay and overgrown.

    Frustration has made me go outside to bring in new varieties of fruit trees to try here in Barbados. The Plant quarantine is another relic that refuse to adapt to electronic technology. Imagine you cannot access a permit form online nor can you submit an application , they refuse email a permit after physically submitting it. The amount of time lost in going back and forth is astounding. The USA are now issuing Phytosanitary certificates electronically and yet Plant quarantine refuse to accept them. How can we progress with this type of thinking??

    I have set up my small aquaponic system growing lettuce, I have started growing Pitayas, mamey sapote, loquats, longans and black sapote.

    So any initiative to improve agriculture is a welcome change.

  42. David Avatar
    David

    Good comment!

  43. Sargeant Avatar
    Sargeant

    @Islandgal

    There is a large tree in the public parking lot of the QEH which was covered with fruit in September, I think was a mamey sapote don’t know if you’ve ever seen it, if you have could you confirm.

  44. islandgal Avatar
    islandgal

    Sarge I have never seen any fruit trees in the car park and I have been there many times last year and earlier this year. I know they have a date palm by the vendors at the front near the A&E that bears fruit but no one picks them. I will have to recheck and let you know. I hope you are not confusing Mamey sapote with mammy apple, these are different fruits.

  45. Sargeant Avatar
    Sargeant

    Islandgal

    This was a large tree close to the rear of the lot and I asked a few people if they could identify it but none of them could. It had flowers and some “fruit” on the trunk as well as the branches. I saw an article on mamey sapote and thought it had the same characteristics as the size of the tree and colour of the “fruit” seemed like a match.

  46. William Skinner Avatar
    William Skinner

    @ island girl
    Very good post. The bureaucracy to which you refer sounds like a 1960s government ministry operating in 2017!
    While successive governments are to blame for much of the plight of agricultre, we should not give the traditional(white) corporate sector a pass. One of the main contributors to the destruction of agriculture, was Barbados Shipping and Trading, which at one point controlled several plantations. You should also remember that both the BLP and DLP subsidized the industry and were often held to ransom by the sugar producers; almost every crop season was marred by the sugar producers reluctance to pay proper wages and extended wage battles with the BWU.
    The owners of the plantations refused to diversify and were not interested in agro industries or ventures such as the one now being promoted by UWI. There were tremendous opportunities both in the local tourism industry and export markets but they were not prepared to invest. They were and to a large extent remain retailers at heart- buy and sell ; not innovate and develop business people.
    Small farming with proper marketing and progressive crop rotation could easily provide immediate employment for at least 5000 people. Imagine if they had any interest in agro industries , where the economy would be today. At least 25-30 000 jobs would have been the norm both seasonal and permanent. It would have forced the UWI to embark on what it is attempting to do at present, a long time ago. Note that one venture is estimated to create 1500 jobs.
    So while some blame can be placed on successive governments, we must be honest enough,
    to hold the traditional white corporate sector just as guilty.
    Quite frankly, all the plantations that were in debt while the owners/inheritors bought yachts, race horses and racing cars, should have been taken over by the government forty years ago and given to the workers who were still working for slave -like wages.

  47. Vincent Haynes Avatar
    Vincent Haynes

    https://www.facebook.com/MNISpirit/photos/a.119087028129026.7848.103640209673708/1518413591529689/?type=3

    Montserrat Radio Echo shared ZJB Radio – Spirit of Montserrat’s photo.
    14 hrs ·
    Image may contain: 3 people, people standing and indoor
    ZJB Radio – Spirit of Montserrat
    14 hrs ·

    Montserrat’s newest appointed Government Minister Hon. David Osborne will preside over his first meeting as Chair of the Board of Governors of the Caribbean Agriculture Research and Development Institute (CARDI) on October 28.

    CARDI’s Executive Director Barton Clarke paid a visit to Minister Osborne on Thursday to apprise him of the responsibilities of the position and to prepare him for the upcoming meeting in Costa Rica.

    Mr. Osborne told ZJB News he feels sufficiently prepared to take up the duties of this position, a role he inherited after Mr. Claude Hogan had his Ministerial revoked in September.

    Photo source: The Government of Montserrat’s facebook page

    (Left) Paul Lucas, Head of the CARDI office in Antigua (centre) Minister of Agriculture, Lands, Trade, Housing and the Envirnonment Hon. David Osborne (right) CARDI Executive Director Barton Clarke
    1 1

  48. islandgal Avatar
    islandgal

    Sarge I believe it is a cannon ball tree. With fruit growing on the trunk. Beautiful flowers as well. The fruit is inedible on that tree. There is one near to the Inland revenue and the Parliament buildings in Bridgetown.

  49. Hants Avatar
    Hants

    97.333% of what is written about Barbados on BU is bad or wussa dan dat.

    I am not surprised at what Islandgal experienced at Haggats but extremely disappointed.

    Why has the governments of Barbados allowed Agriculture to decline to its current state ?

    Haggats should have been expanded and a program of continuous improvement put in place.

    In the 60s and 70s small farmers got support from the Ministry of Agriculture.

    Farmers growing fruit,vegetables and root crops benefited from the ploughing by government tractors and by selling their produce to the BMC.

    The MOA also subsidised animal feed and slaughtering.

    It is sad that Barbados has chosen to follow a high risk path of depending on other countries to provide “food security”.

    I gine in my little 2×4 garden an cut some chives,oregano,thyme an pick another tomato an a couple strawberries.

  50. David Avatar
    David

    Barbadians use to be able to buy fruit trees from the NCC location on the Bow Road over by the Stadium. Not sure the status these days.

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