(MOA Basseterre, St. Kitts, 13 June 2024):
As the twin island nation of St. Kitts and Nevis makes significant strides in transforming local food production, reducing reliance on imported goods, and fostering a robust and resilient agricultural sector, the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Marine Resources, Honourable Samal M Duggins says that the federation will emerge as the food mecca of the Leeward Islands with the anticipated success of the 25 by 25 Agenda initiative.
The Honourable Minister was at the time speaking with the media following an enlightening tour of the soon to be completed Poultry Hatchery facility on Monday 3rd June 2024. The facility is being constructed under the Layer Chicken Industry Sustainable Development Project in collaboration with the Taiwan Technical Mission at the Bayford’s Livestock Centre of Excellence. Minister Duggins explained that the successful completion of this project will further launch the twin-island state on its path to reduce the food import bill by 25% by the year 2025 as it stands to cut the import bill by nearly 20 million dollars.
He said, “Poultry in particular is our largest sector in terms of spend nationally and one that we see quite a bit of opportunity for our people. Particularly this project will address Hatchery which will provide their own birds to the farmers who are producing eggs, and we know that we have been doing quite well in egg production locally, but this is to close the gap so that we can become 100% efficient in egg production and we have also been discussing some ideas of how to put maybe some of these birds into broiler production. I’m looking forward because 20 million dollars is a significant chunk of our 25 by 25 Agenda, and we are steadfast and committed to achieving this and with the help of the Taiwanese and the people of the Republic of China and Taiwan and their government we are well on our way to achieving our agenda and making sure St. Kitts & Nevis becomes self-sufficient not in just egg production but in food security and food production on a whole and like I said we are becoming the food mecca of the Leeward islands.”
In 2022, chicken imports reached a record-breaking 19.3 million, marking the highest figure in the past five years.
With the vision of enhancing food security, promoting sustainability, and boosting the local economy, the comprehensive 25 by 25 Agenda focuses on impacting every aspect of the food supply chain from meats, and crops in agriculture to aquaculture and fisheries.
The primary goal in St. Kitts and Nevis is to reduce the annual $140-million food import bill by 25%, leading to an overall reduction of $35 million.
