By Monique Washington
Nevispages.com
Seas of bright colors covered the Charlestown Villa grounds yesterday and will again today for the 23rd staging of the Agriculture pen day.
The event was held under the patronage of Tizena Brookes a field worker for the Department of Agriculture for over 30 years. The event was held under the theme ’Embracing Climate Smart Agriculture to Achieve Greater Food Security’.
Farmers, fishers and livestock owners demonstrated that they are indeed embracing climate smart techniques by the wide variety and high quality of produce presented at the Open Day. Tomatoes, onions, melons, sweet potatoes, various colors of sweet peppers, carrots, squashes, a variety of ornamental plants, fruits and vegetable crops, ducks, turkeys, geese, birds, rabbits, ducks, puppies and even a donkey were all on display at the Open Day.
Vegetable fruit stalls and plant stalls owners, Agro Processors, Ornamental plant suppliers, the Agro Processing Center and Livestock owners all came out in their numbers. One farmer, Mrs. Emontine Thompson, from Brown Hill Village presented one of the largest cabbages produced in the Federation weighing 18 lbs.
Food demonstration also took place with presentations by Chef Michael Henville and Chef Sylvester Wallace.
The event opened with remarks from the Permanent Secretary in Agriculture, Eric Evelyn, Acting Director of Agriculture, Randy Elliott, Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) representative, John King, Commissioner of Agriculture in St. Eustatius Charles Woodley, the Minister in charge of Agriculture, Hon Alexis Jeffers and the Premier of Nevis Hon Vance Amory.
At the opening event Jason Jonas was named ‘Crop Farmer of the Year’, Calvin Prentis was named ‘Livestock Farmer of the Year’ and Jason Brown was named ‘Fisherman of the Year’. A number of the department workers were also recognized for their contribution in Agriculture.
In attendance were The Right Excellent Dr. Kennedy Simmonds, Deputy Premier of Nevis Hon. Mark Brantley, Leader of the Federal Opposition Hon. Dr. Denzil Douglas, Junior Minister in the NIA Hon. Troy Liburd, Hon. Clyde I. van Putten, Leader of Government of the Public Entity of Saint Eustatius, Hon. Richeline Leerdam, Island Council Member, Mr. Anthony Reid, Unit Manager of Agriculture in St. Eustatius, Hon. Michael Perkins Speaker of the National Assembly and Hon. Farrell Smithen Speaker of the Nevis Island Assembly.
Day two is set to bring more products, crafts, plants, produce, the raffling of the bull and pig, food demonstrations, domino competition and the Odisi Band will bring down the curtains.