Female crop producers to get more opportunities in St Kitts and Nevis

The Ministry of Agriculture St Kitts and Nevis is making special efforts to provide extensive opportunities to female crop producers in the country. Multiple female farmers were given special appreciation during the celebrations of International Women's Day.

The Ministry of Agriculture announced that special extension and consulting services would be provided as part of the ministry's assistance for women, allowing women to better understand the market and how it operates and the market's needs in terms of products and quality and volume.

Director of the Department of Agriculture, Dr Tracy Challenger, stated that the participation of females in the sector has overall enhanced the socio-economic life within the country. She stated the Federation has seen more females coming forward with progressive ideas in agriculture.

"It is only through our combined efforts that we can achieve gender parity and make International Women's Day meaningful," said Challenger.

Discussing the theme of Women's Day celebrations, Dr Challenger said that theme has been 'Advancing Women in Agriculture,' and the ceremony demonstrated that St Kitts and Nevis is succeeding in the sector.

I'd like to use a few historical examples: when I first joined the Department of Agriculture in 1999, I was the only female in attendance at senior management meetings. We now have a significant advantage over the men. At such a high-level meeting, we currently have six females and five males," said Challenger.

She stated that the country is seeing more women entrepreneurs in agriculture, and those who are already in the industry, such as Debbie Gilbert, are pioneering the use of technologies like green houses and aquaponics.

Dr Challenger further emphasized that the Ministry of Agriculture is committed to helping more and more women farmers obtain the skills they need to succeed in the industry. In order to achieve this goal, the ministry partnered with a group of women from across the Federation to form the St Kitts chapter of the Caribbean Network of Rural Women Producers (CANROP).

She said through work as farmers, labourers, and entrepreneurs; women are valuable agriculture and fisheries resources.