Tue, 2014-01-07 14:25 -- marcathian.alexander
Rhyesa Joseph
Tuesday, January 07, 2014 – The Minister for Agriculture, Food Production, Fisheries & Rural Development Hon. Moses Jn. Baptiste is providing important updates on the agricultural sector following the trough of December 24, 2013.
The Agriculture Minister reports the farmers in the south of the island were dealt a heavy blow. The most acute areas are Black Bay and Cannelles. Both experienced 80-90% damage in livestock and crops. Beausejour suffered 95% damage to livestock and crops. Vegetable Farmers from the Roseau Valley and Anse-la-Raye/Canaries realized a 90% destruction of crops.
Some farmers from Vieux-Fort North through to Micoud South are currently unable to access their farms. It is against this backdrop that the Ministry of Agriculture is collaborating with the Ministry of Infrastructure, Port Services and Transport to alleviate this difficulty.
The minister is also allaying concerns of unethical practices by vendors. He reassured consumers that his ministry is vigilantly monitoring the situation.
Jn. Baptiste states, “The Ministry of Health has also been brought into the loop. Not only with the situation where vendors are not placing their produce in trays but also there have been reports of meat that is being sold. The meat is unsafe because a number of people, some of whom are not butchers at all, took the opportunity to collect the carcasses of animals that were drowned by the flood to sell meat to unsuspecting consumers. Genuine market vendors I am sure will not behave in that way. And genuine butchers, people who are trained certainly will not behave in that way. This is something that’s against the laws of the country. And all food that is being sold to consumers should be done in a safe and hygienic way. Penalties can be imposed if individuals are caught in that kind of activity.”
According to Jn. Baptiste, the Government of Saint Lucia is resolute in its effort to assist farmers and will provide more details soon.