Minister expects positive economic boost from livestock, arrowroot industry

Livestock rearing and arrowroot production are two aspects of the agricultural sector that this year are expected to create a positive impact on the economy of St Vincent and the Grenadines.

During his contribution to the debate on the 2016 Budget last week, Minister of Agriculture Saboto Caesar said there is a 30 million dollar market for goats and sheep in Trinidad and Tobago.{{more}}

“It is an area for potential and possible growth and our job is to ensure that we match opportunities with possibilities; this is our task in 2016,” the minister said. He further noted that there has been a request for 1,000 heads of cattle to be exported to Grenada.

“I can recall Mr Speaker when the trade started, persons said the Ministry of Agriculture is sending away all the cattle and persons were placed in immediate fear and those who panicked easily panicked and persons came back with all kinds of rumours and distortions.

“But Mr Speaker, there’s a good story to be told as to how we are successfully addressing the problem.”

Caesar further revealed that in 2015, the Ministry of Agriculture received over 100 straws of cattle semen from the Government of Jamaica, which has been used to artificially inseminate cows here.

“In fact, Mr Speaker, I am advised that the first batch of calves is expected in March this year,” he added.

The Minister also outlined initiatives that are to be introduced by the Veterinary Division, which include tagging of animals, enhancement of animal husbandry practices, importation of pedigree animals from Jamaica and Barbados, multiplication of small animals and an education campaign to encourage livestock farmers.

Turning his attention to arrowroot, Caesar asserted that arrowroot from St Vincent and the Grenadines is the best in the world and farmers have benefited from the rising price of the commodity.

“This price incentive has impacted positively on the arrowroot industry. Today the industry has 152 arrowroot farmers concentrated in the North Windward area and I really want to thank the arrowroot farmers of St Vincent and the Grenadines for sticking through the thick and thin.”

The agriculture minister noted that the growth in production has been “so sharp” that the contracts that the ministry had with their traditional purchasers only demanded a total of 80,000 pounds.

He said the purchasers could not offload the arrowroot starch quickly enough on their consumers and this year the industry will purchase one million pounds of rhizomes, with the projection of having over 100,000 pounds of starch.”

Caesar disclosed that an agricultural expert, Professor Leonard O’Garro, is expected on island to offer professional advice on possible restructuring, as the industry grapples with evolving market demands.(AS)