Read the Agri-fest Newsletter - Antigua & Barbuda
Read the Agri-fest Newsletter - Antigua & Barbuda
Read the Agri-fest Newsletter - Antigua & Barbuda
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February, 2011 VOL 1 ISSUE 1<br />
<strong>Antigua</strong> takes top positions<br />
Welcome Back Team 2011<br />
The <strong>Antigua</strong> & <strong>Barbuda</strong> team comprised, Sharon<br />
Peters (Permanent Secretary), Sereno Benjamin<br />
(chairman of <strong>the</strong> Planning Committee), Owolabi<br />
Elabanjo (Extension Officer), Dalma Hill (General<br />
Manager Central Marketing Co-operation), Onika<br />
Campbell (Communications Co-ordinator), Diahn<br />
Gomes (Animal Health Assistant), Irose Henry (Cades<br />
Bay Station Manager), Tracelyn Michael (CMC<br />
Marketing Manager), Ernestine Nesbitt and o<strong>the</strong>r<br />
private sector representatives and farmers.<br />
Also, showcasing <strong>Antigua</strong> and <strong>Barbuda</strong> Au<strong>the</strong>ntic<br />
crafts and produce are Twin –I Payne (Farmer of<br />
Twinstod Enterprise), Bernadette Francis of (Fab<br />
Weave) and Alvis Abbott (Early Childhood<br />
Education), Evette Williams , Dorothy Pelle, Icilma<br />
Bleau , Kwsi Bleau, Andrea Douglas and Jeanette<br />
Galloway. <strong>Antigua</strong> own Suzies’ hot-sauce, and <strong>the</strong><br />
signature Black pineapple are also on display at <strong>the</strong><br />
Exhibition. <strong>Agri</strong>-fair encourages attendees to take <strong>the</strong><br />
time to speak to local farmers, artisans, horticulturists,<br />
and business representatives. A unique and special<br />
opportunity to network with business and socialize in a<br />
relaxed environment was created.<br />
Judges at <strong>the</strong> St. Croix agri –<strong>fest</strong> make <strong>the</strong>ir rounds at <strong>the</strong><br />
country’s main booth<br />
Private Farmer Twin –I Payne shows –off<br />
commodities from his farm<br />
Ministry of <strong>Agri</strong>culture, Lands, Housing & <strong>the</strong><br />
Environment<br />
Communications Department<br />
Ph 268.462.1007 ext 246<br />
Phone. 268.562.6224<br />
Independence Drive, St. Johns<br />
<strong>Antigua</strong><br />
Email: Onika.Campbell@gmail.com<br />
www.agricultureantiguabarbuda.com
AGRI –FEST REPORTS<br />
SUCCESSES<br />
Officials met at <strong>the</strong> Ministry of <strong>Agri</strong>culture, Lands, Housing & <strong>the</strong><br />
Environment during a press conference, Thursdays’ to highlight <strong>the</strong><br />
achievements of <strong>Antigua</strong> & <strong>Barbuda</strong>’s participation in <strong>the</strong> recently held<br />
<strong>Agri</strong> –<strong>fest</strong> in St. Croix between February 19-21.<br />
The press conference comprised <strong>the</strong> Minister of <strong>Agri</strong>culture, Lands,<br />
Housing & <strong>the</strong> Environment Hilson Baptiste, his Minister of State<br />
Chanlah Codrington, chairman of <strong>the</strong> <strong>Agri</strong> –<strong>fest</strong> Committee Sereno<br />
Benjamin, Central Marketing Corporation Manager (CMC) Dalma Hill,<br />
Diahn Gomes Animal Health Assistant, youth farmer Twin I –Payne of<br />
Twinstod Enterprise Ltd, and o<strong>the</strong>r members of <strong>the</strong> team.<br />
Participants of <strong>the</strong> <strong>Agri</strong>-<strong>fest</strong> celebrate following a<br />
press conference<br />
Meanwhile, Chairman of <strong>Agri</strong> –<strong>fest</strong> planning<br />
Committee Sereno Benjamin listed<br />
opportunities for training and capacity<br />
building.<br />
Benjamin reported <strong>the</strong> exchange yielded deep<br />
commitment to <strong>the</strong> mutual advancement of<br />
<strong>the</strong> sectors for both countries especially in<br />
areas of training and capacity building.<br />
Permanent Secretary Sharon Peters headed<br />
<strong>the</strong> negotiations in St. Croix.<br />
Achievements<br />
O Exportation of solid Germsplasm of<br />
Mangoes to <strong>Antigua</strong> & <strong>Barbuda</strong> from St.<br />
Croix<br />
Export opportunities for onions, carrots,<br />
sweet potatoes<br />
O Training in grafting/ capacity building for<br />
officers from St. Croix<br />
O Training in Aqua –culture development<br />
O The continuation of <strong>the</strong> artificial<br />
insemination of Senopole.<br />
The genetic introduction of white hair sheep<br />
into <strong>Antigua</strong> and <strong>Barbuda</strong><br />
Minister Baptiste highlighted areas of collaboration developed between<br />
<strong>the</strong> regions (<strong>Antigua</strong> & St. Croix), especially as it relates to <strong>the</strong> exportation<br />
of agricultural produce.<br />
The minister thanked <strong>the</strong> team for <strong>the</strong>ir dedication, commitment and result<br />
oriented achievements during <strong>the</strong> trip to St. Croix.<br />
Sereno Benjamin (Chairman of <strong>the</strong> <strong>Agri</strong>-<strong>fest</strong> Committee), Minister of Chanlah<br />
Codrington and Minister of <strong>Agri</strong>culture, Lands, Housing & <strong>the</strong> Environment<br />
Hilson Baptiste
Showcasing …<br />
<strong>Antigua</strong> and <strong>Barbuda</strong>’s team to <strong>the</strong> 40th, agri<strong>fest</strong><br />
in St Croix has made significant inroads<br />
with dialogues and concretized trading, training<br />
and o<strong>the</strong>r business opportunities for <strong>the</strong> twin –<br />
island nation.<br />
LOCAL COMMODITIES ON<br />
DISPLAY<br />
The <strong>fest</strong>ival, which ran from February 19-21,<br />
includes exhibitors, farmers, artisans,<br />
horticulturists and business representatives.<br />
As part of <strong>the</strong> teams’ effort to secure avenues<br />
for export opportunities, a discussion was<br />
facilitated from <strong>the</strong> studios of WSTX Radio in<br />
St. Croix, on <strong>the</strong> show Straight Talk with<br />
Senator Holland Redfield and Observer Radio<br />
Studio in <strong>Antigua</strong>, Voice of <strong>the</strong> People with<br />
Winston Derrick.<br />
Arising from that historic simulcast discussion<br />
between Minister of <strong>Agri</strong>culture, Lands,<br />
Housing & <strong>the</strong> Environment Hilson Baptiste of<br />
<strong>Antigua</strong> and Dr. Louis Petersen, Commissioner<br />
of <strong>Agri</strong>culture of St. Croix, an agreement, was<br />
reached that opportunity for trade exists<br />
between <strong>the</strong> two countries. Especially, as it<br />
relates to fresh agricultural produce.<br />
From left: Owolabi Elabanjo (extension officer), Sharon Peters (Permanent Secretary),<br />
Tracelyn Michael (CMC Marketing Manager), Dalma Hill (CMC General Manager),<br />
Sereno Benjamin (Extension Officer/ Committee Chairman ), and Icilma Bleau<br />
Jedidiah Maxime, Acting Director of<br />
<strong>Agri</strong>culture, Dalma Hill CMC General Manager<br />
and Sereno Benjamin Extension Officer were in<br />
studios Observer Radio and WSTX,<br />
respectively, providing technical support.<br />
A fur<strong>the</strong>r agreement was reached during a<br />
subsequent discussion between Dr. Louis<br />
Petersen and Permanent Secretary Sharon Peters<br />
that <strong>Antigua</strong> and <strong>Barbuda</strong> could benefit from<br />
training opportunities, networking of technical<br />
and capacity building in areas of agricultural<br />
business development.<br />
Irose Henry (Cades Bay General Manager), Sharon Peters (Permanent Secretary ), Diahn Gomes<br />
(Animal Health Assistant), Sereno Benjamin (Extension Officer), Twin –I Payne (Manager Twinstod<br />
Enterprise/ owner of Stall), and Alvis Abbott (Early Childhood Education)
<strong>Agri</strong> –Fest Deepened Commitment<br />
Permanent Secretary Sharon Peters led a team comprising Sereno Benjamin Extension Officer and<br />
Dalma Hill General Manager of <strong>the</strong> Central Marketing Corporation to meet with <strong>the</strong> Dr. Louis<br />
Petersen Commissioner of <strong>Agri</strong>culture on St. Croix –which firmed up o<strong>the</strong>r areas of opportunities<br />
and schedule a round table visit for Dr. Petersen in <strong>Antigua</strong>. Through that session an avenue was<br />
created for a meeting with two of St. Croix’s largest exporters of agricultural producers to explore<br />
<strong>the</strong> possibilities of trade in onions.<br />
New Supervisor Andy<br />
Williams, <strong>Antigua</strong> designated<br />
driver being helpful<br />
The permanent Secretary also met with Kwame Garcia, University Virgin Islands Senior Director of<br />
off –island participation. Among <strong>the</strong> topics discussed was <strong>the</strong> involvement of <strong>the</strong> university in<br />
Mango Fest.<br />
Photos attached are by Onika Campbell, Communications Co-ordinator