Barbados is more self-sufficient in food production than many people may know.

This declaration has come from Minister of Agriculture, Food, Fisheries and Water Resource Management, Dr. David Estwick, who was speaking during the launch of the Ministry???s pilot food zone project, for St. Michael and St. George in the St. George Parish Church car park, yesterday morning.

Dr. Estwick noted that research conducted for the new White Paper on Agriculture, showed that the sector in Barbados had been given a ???pretty raw deal??? in terms of its public relations, as they were a plethora of negative pictures which highlighted Barbados??? high food import bill.

The Agriculture Minister stated that the research showed Barbados produced 60 to 65 per cent of the food it consumed, while there were approximately 15 to 20 products that Barbados imported heavily.

???How many of you are aware that we are almost totally self-sufficient in eggs, pork, chicken and a lot of vegetables ??? and when that document is released post Cabinet, you are going to be shocked,??? he emphasised.

Dr. Estwick said that the White Paper should be presented to Parliament in the upcoming weeks, after which it would be made available to the public.

aisha.reid@barbados.gov.bb

Pin It on Pinterest