TIME TO CARRY OUT agricultural census

While it has been observed in Barbados that there is some migration of persons out of the rural areas in search of better opportunities for self-improvement, there is the need for an agricultural census to determine the true status of agricultural production in the country and the extent of rural migration.

According to the Deputy Chief Agriculture Officer, Leslie Brereton, while the situation is currently being monitored, agriculture and rural development can address the root causes of migration, including rural poverty, food insecurity, unemployment, lack of social protection, as well as natural resource depletion due to environmental degradation and climate change.

“The Ministry of Agriculture, Food, Fisheries and Water Resource Management has a unique role to play in reducing rural migration by assisting in the improvement of agricultural production and productivity in rural areas. This is in support of the creation of better conditions and resilient livelihoods in these areas,” Brereton said.

The Deputy Chief Agriculture Officer addressed the issue of persons migrating from rural areas yesterday as he delivered remarks at his Ministry’s farmers' market, which coincided with the 2017 World Food Day celebrations, at the Ministry’s Graeme Hall headquarters.

World Food Day, which will be observed this Monday, has been themed: "Change the Future of Migration. Invest in Food security and Rural Development".

Brereton also explained that the technical section of the Ministry of Agriculture is in the process of redressing some of the gaps in its human resources component, in order to address some of the myriad of technical problems facing the agricultural sector.

“To this end, there has been the establishment of a Climate Change Unit with the mandate to assist farms in mitigating the impact of climate change, and to build resilience as well as to increase farm output,” he said.

“Here at Graeme Hall, the Ministry of Agriculture is moving in the direction of converting the entire acreage into research and demonstration area to showcase modern technology in the production of traditional and non-traditional crops.

“The Ministry will also be reviewing its farm incentive programme to create a package to better assist agricultural development in the country,” he added.

Those who attended yesterday’s event had the opportunity to purchase fresh local fruits and vegetables. Schoolchildren were also given the opportunity to learn about the different aspects and programmes of the Ministry.