Ministry of Agriculture Distributes Thousands of Banana and Plantain Suckers to Boost Local Food Production

In a significant step towards reducing the high level of food imports into St. Kitts and Nevis, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Marine Resources distributed thousands of banana and plantain suckers to local farmers and backyard gardeners on Wednesday, 16th October 2024. 

The event, part of the ministry’s activities for World Food Day, saw approximately 13,000 banana suckers and between 12,000 and 15,000 plantain suckers handed over during a well-attended distribution drive.

Held at the Royal Basseterre Valley National Park, the initiative is part of the Dr. Terrance Drew-led government’s broader push to promote local food production and strengthen food security across the Federation. 

Ian Chapman, Head of the Crops Programme at the Ministry of Agriculture, underscored the importance of the drive, stating that it will contribute significantly to reducing the country’s reliance on imported produce.

“This initiative, led by the 25 by 25 programme, is a direct intervention aimed at reducing the food import bill,” Mr. Chapman explained. “Bananas and plantains are two crops that we see with high import volumes, so by encouraging local production, we can make a substantial impact.”

In addition to being consumed fresh, bananas and plantains play an important role in the agro-processing sector, where they are used to create a range of products, further increasing their value to the local economy. Chapman noted the versatility of these crops as a key factor in their popularity and the ministry’s focus on boosting their cultivation.

Wednesday’s event marked the second distribution of banana and plantain suckers this year. A similar drive in July saw around 26,000 suckers distributed to farmers. Both events are part of the ministry’s ongoing effort to promote sustainable farming practices and ensure a reliable supply of locally grown produce.

With the success of these initiatives, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Marine Resources hopes to continue empowering farmers and backyard gardeners to increase their production, ultimately reducing the Federation’s dependence on imported food and enhancing the resilience of its agricultural sector.