Fishermen of St.Vincent and the Grenadines will again benefit from the placement of 2 new FADs which will be deployed on Tuesday 6th March.

According to officials at the Fisheries Division, the FADs will be placed at sites off the coast of Barrouallie and Owia respectively.

FADs, or Fish Aggregating Devices, are man-made objects placed in the sea that attract fishes such as tuna, dolphin and other species. They are made from various types of materials, anchored to the ocean floor and assist with flotation through the use of buoys.

Fisheries Officer, Hyrone Johnson stated that the FADs have been accessed through a project now being implemented and funded through the European Inter-regional Cooperation through a Magdelisa Project, managed by the French Authorities. Mr Johnson said that the FADs will be constructed in the neighbouring island of Martinique and brought here. On Tuesday, they will be placed at the sites requested by the fishers and monitored by the Fisheries Division.

Chief Fisheries Officer, Raymond Ryan said that the placement of the FADs is consistent with the drive to enhance fisheries development in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. He stated that the devices will facilitate:

1. an increase in fish landings an
   
   
2. increase in the efficiency of fishing trips, primarily, by reducing search time and fuel consumption for each fishing trip
   
   
3. a reduction in fishing pressure on reef and shelf fish populations
   
   
4. an enhanced contribution of fisheries to GDP and national food security
   
   
5. greater collaboration among fishermen.

The FADs will be deployed with the assistance of a vessel that is expected in Port Kingstown tomorrow Tuesday and will journey to the sites with officials from the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Transformation, Fisheries, Forestry and Industry.

Minister of Agriculture, Rural Transformation, Forestry, Fisheries and Industry, Hon. Saboto Caesar, along with Senior Officials in the Ministry commenced a series of weekly visits to banana fields affected by the Black Sigatoka disease throughout the banana producing belts. The first visit was made on Tuesday last to the Marriaqua Valley.

These visits are in support of the massive cut back program now being implemented to destroy all abandoned banana fields considered to be a source for the proliferation of the fungus which causes Black Sigatoka. Accordingly the minister and his team visited a number of the areas already treated and took the opportunity to talk with and encourage the farmers in supporting the measures being undertaken to manage the disease. The Minister also visited the model farm of one Selwyn Delpeche of Evesham, who, in spite of the disease, applied good agricultural practices and kept the disease to a minimum.

According to Minister Caesar, every Tuesday over the next six (6) months, the Team will visit banana farmers on their farms to rebuild their hopes in the industry and to garner their support in the rebuilding of the banana industry.

Meanwhile, Minister Caesar also stated, that the rehabilitation of the banana Industry and by extension the Agricultural sector will require among other strategies, a concerted mechanization program. In lieu of this, the Ministry of Agriculture through the Office of the Prime Minister is sourcing equipment from Japan and Venezuela for the mechanization of Agriculture. Minister Caesar added that approximately twenty (20) to twenty five (25) tractors will be needed. Currently, there are four (4) functional tractors throughout the island.

To be innovative when we facilitate and stimulate the efficient utilisation of resources within the sector, and to adopt a holistic approach to agriculture and rural development.

Goals

• To promote Government's Policy on Agriculture, and Fisheries.


• To promote the work of other organisation's support to the implementation of the Ministry's work programme and projects - CARDI, IICA and the Chinese Technical Mission.


• To assist with the transfer of specific technologies to major clients.


• To provide communication support to Units, Divisions and Departments of the Ministries - news releases and announcements.


• To allow for online processing of forms, etc;


• To inform the general public about the work of the Ministry.


• To provide decision-making information to farmers, fisher folk, members of staff and the general public.

Target Audience

• Farmers


• Traders


• Private Investors


• Consumers


• Business Places - Supermarkets, Hotels etc.


• Policy Makers


• Members of the Diaspora

To create the enabling environment for the entrepreneurial drive of farmers, fisher-folk and other related target groups to strive to increase agri-food production, processing, marketing; thus increasing employment, rural income, food security and foreign exchange earnings, while ensuring the efficient utilisation and sustainability of the Nation's natural resources.