Basseterre, St Kitts, April 15, 2020 – Local crop farmers have accused the Timothy Harris-led Team Unity Government of continuing to give lip service to the agriculture sector even in the face of a threat to food security from the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Farmers cannot be quarantined, they cannot lock down farmers. Crop farmers must be seen as our bird in the hand. If the food crop farmers are not allowed to go and look after their crops, it is open day for monkeys on our farms,” said Tristram Mills, speaking on the weekly radio programme hosted by the Rt Hon Dr Denzil L Douglas.
Prominent Nevisian farmer Dr Kelvin Daley questioned the decision to limit crop farmers to just two hours — 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. — to tend their crops and livestock. “If you are a root crop farmer these hours are not enough if you are talking about food security. I do not know of any mass of farmers congregating at any one farm so social distancing should not be an issue regarding the operations of a farm,” said Daley.