Agriculture’s contribution to the Wellness Revolution

The Government of St.Vincent and the Grenadines is meeting the challenge of escalating food prices with a multi-dimensional response, which includes the development and implementation of a National Food Plan initiated by the Ministry of Agriculture.{{more}}

The plan incorporates strategies and initiatives geared towards the stimulation of increased domestic food production so that food to the local population can be made more readily available at affordable prices.

The Food Plan is to be implemented over the period 2008 to 2020 and will have both short and medium to long term strategies for sectoral development.

Programming Areas:

Vegetables- The food plan would focuses on making at least five (5) major vegetables available all year round. These includes; carrots, Cabbages, Tomatoes, Lettuce, Sweet peppers, and Cauliflower/Broccoli.

Fruit Crop Production- The objective of the food plan is to make five fruits available year round apart from the seasonal fruits. These fruits include: Bananas, Papaya, Pineapples, Melons, Pitiya.

The expectation is that these fruits will be made available at the schools, the supermarket, outlets and at the farm level to consumers.

Root Crops- To produce on a regular basis the amount of staples required by the Vincentian population at affordable prices and for exports. The targeted root crops include: Dasheen and callaloo, Cassava, Yams, Ginger, Arrowroot, Eddoes, Sweet Potatoes, Tannia.

Food Crops- The commodities under this group include breadfruit, breadnut, coconut and plantain.

Livestock- To provide a regular source of animal protein by reducing meat and meat imports and increasing the domestic production of pigs, poultry (Broilers and Layers), Sheep and Goats, Cattle and Rabbits.

Fish and Fish Products- Government’s objective is to create the environment that will make the supply of fish as a source of more reliable and affordable to the population.