BVI Premier lauds St Kitts' Agriculture Ministry for comprehensive 25 by 25 agenda

St Kitts and Nevis: Premier of the British Virgin Islands Natalio D Wheatley has lauded the Ministry of Agriculture in St Kitts for its comprehensive and ambitious 25 by 25 agenda. He said he was inspired by the scientific approach and impressed with the pace that has taken place on the island. Through a video message, the Premier of BVI said, "We're on a similar path towards agricultural sustainability" and added that the presentation of Minister Samal Duggins' 25 by 25 plan is very impressive. The report comprised several crops which were identified that the country wants to reduce by 25% by the year 2025.

While appreciating Minister Duggins, Premier Wheatley added that he put a lot of thinking into the report and added, "He is very scientific in his approach of ensuring that he had the resources necessary and the planning necessary to actually deliver on those commitments."

Meanwhile the Minister of Agriculture of St Kitts outlined that it is truly inspiring to see the efforts resonate beyond the shores. "We are grateful for his support and eager to collaborate on this journey towards a more resilient and food secure future." Earlier this week, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Marine Resources shared the much-anticipated "25 by 25 Agenda" document, outlining the ambitious goals, targets, actionable strategies and supporting initiatives for 2025 and beyond. The key highlights of the report are as follows: • The Greenhouse Village Initiative • Agriculture Mechanization • Storage Facilities • Poultry Processing Facility • Aquaculture Facility Development • Rehabilitation of Fisheries Facilities • Feral Animal Control • Implementation of Drought Resilience Project • Leveraging Market Intelligence All these initiatives are clearly stated in the report which demonstrates the seriousness of the Agriculture Ministry to achieve CARICOM's 25 by 25 agenda. The report states that the overarching goal is to not only reduce the reliance on food imports but to evolve into a net exported, fostering economic self-sufficiency.

The Government also aims to generate meaningful employment opportunities that will, in turn, enhance livelihoods across the community.