 Hello everyone and welcome to the program Agriculture on the Move. I am Philip Sidney, your host. Here with me is our permanent secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Rural Development, Mr Barrymore Felicier. Welcome to the program sir. Thank you very much Mr Sidney, good day viewers. Great. Mr Felicier, we have so much to discuss when it comes to the Ministry of Agriculture, which is a very dynamic ministry, so much happening and I don't think half an hour is sufficient for us to discuss our achievement, but give us a brief overview to date of the achievements of the performance of your ministry. Okay, the Department of Agriculture is made up of several departments, fisheries, forestry, extension advisory services, engineering services, plant and research, vet and livestock. We also have a host of other areas to cover within those departments themselves. So this year the emphasis is on food security, the new vision. But with those portfolios assigned or those departments assigned, we have a budget of just over 58 million, 22.3 of that is recurrent expenditure, capital expenditure is about 45 million and we have revenue targets of just about $650,000 which has been lowered because of COVID. Revenue is not performing well, but to date we've collected in terms of revenue just about 50%, 49% of our revenue. In terms of recurrent expenditure, we've dealt with that in terms of 62% there about and capital projects implementation rate of about 40% and 40% because we've had delays in implementation caused by the new public procurement act and of course there was a general election where you had to seek new policy direction on what is happening. So in a nutshell there is an overview of the ministry in terms of departments, revenue, expenditure and capital expenditure. In terms of capital projects, we have projects in the area of ATP that is agricultural transformation program where you have special projects unit. We have projects in terms of the relocation to Volett capital project. We have the ongoing work at the national agricultural diagnostic facility. We have ongoing work in terms of the CC for fish program where we have coral reef enhancement and the like coast fish. We have fisheries management plan, aquaculture management plans and the like. We have VJF which were issued there in the fisheries. We have upcoming projects next year, but we will not touch on that now. In terms of forestry, we have projects under the DVRP, rehabilitation of the nursery. We have the ACT program that is the wildlife conservation and education center being rehabilitated and developed. That is almost complete with the average just to populate it in the animals. We have the rehabilitation of trails at forestry. We have the IWECO project which is a stabilization project. We have the GCD John Compton Dam which we just completed. Yes. Yes, that's forestry. We help with IANOLA project, the Jeff's service coast project under forestry. So there are a lot of things happening in terms of vet and livestock, animal pounds, again, the public health aspect to it, the treatment of the Bontick program, the surveillance and monitoring. We have pretty lastly the usual services going on, employment of officers, monitoring surveillance. There's a lot happening. Wow. But in terms of deadlines and achievements of those programs, where some of those programs are they close to completion or are they somewhere in the middle area? So a lot of these programs are ongoing projects. So for example, if we were to take the National Agriculture Diagnostic Facility, which is a two-story building, the first floor is comprised of the animal laboratory and the plant laboratory. There's room for the solution of bureau standards and we have a food safety component in there. And then upstairs the second story we have floors up there. So in terms of that physical infrastructure, it is almost completed. We're only missing an elevator and a chemical storage room. A chemical storage room because the chemicals for safety is hazardous to store these chemicals within the same facility that houses persons. So in terms of completion, very near completion. We should see completion before the end of this financial year. In terms of wallet, we have completed the watchman, the warehouse, stockman's shed, the watchman's shed, some on the upper link road, lower link road, the rabbitry, small ruminants, the swine pens. We've completed all that infrastructure, the gates and fencing, the electricals, the water. So to date, what we have to complete this financial year is water reticulation, the sewer system and start the administrative building this year. In the future in the years coming, quarantine pens will be required because you cannot house the animals coming in together with the general population. And we have some other work to be done in terms of the infrastructure, pasture and the like. So these will be done in coming years. So we have two or three years left to complete wallet, but by the end of this year, we should be able to move. We have some animals at Sa'afa. Once the administrative building is completed, we should be able to move those animals across. Great. How's your livestock? Let's talk about the MPF. MPF. So the mid-processing facility, since we moved across to Sa'afa, the plan was to relocate and move the processing facility to Lapelle in Dennerie. The options are now on the table to stay and re-equip the facility at the MPF. So we are now at Boseju, sorry. We are now seeking options and costings. What do we cost by way of estimates? To now re-equip that facility to a fully functioning facility. So that is the, and the other option is, of course, a fully fledged facility at Lapelle, which is around $16 million. So to weigh the options to go, we will be providing the executive with the costings and options to make a final decision as to whether or not we remain or we go. Wow. Yes. Okay. So MPF to stay at Boseju, which I think is a good thing because in terms of cost. The equipment, do you think the equipment up to date is still good working condition? That is part of the costing that we need to get the persons who set up in the UK to come down, have a look at the existing equipment, tell us what is in good functioning condition, what it would cost to repair and bring this facility back to the state of prominence it was once in. Okay. Great. Strainable. This is just probably briefly because I don't think we should shy away from it because we started some work on this and we did ads. We had meetings with the livestock owners, but apparently it's coming back, you know, it's really causing a problem now. Where are we at? Yes. So we have done some work in terms of strengthening our position in terms of providing an animal pound. So it was actually published that the locations of the animal pounds in Bekso, we have assigned pound keepers and we have done the like. We have worked with some of the farmers in terms of identifying and targeting animals to ensure that the animal, the owners and animals are in a registry. We know who they are and who the animals belong to and we've done some sensitization and education with the farmers as well. But there is a persistent problem, especially in the shock area with one particular farmer where the animals are always on the highway. We have sent documentation to the individual and pursued some exercises warning the individual of the dangers of allowing those animals to show. So in the near future, I can see, Mr. Sidney, that some action will have to be taken to safeguard the public safety. Safety is paramount and we have to ensure that the public, especially the motoring public, they are not in any serious harm. The animals as well, it's unfair to them. When you hit an animal, sometimes the animal suffers. So again, in terms of cruelty to animals, yes, so that's a different problem. And in viewport as well, we've noted the issue with Mr. Shalry, where these three animals have been visiting his garden and destroying his produce, which seems to be a recurring event. So yes, we've noted and taken account of those things. OK, there are a number of other projects. I don't know if you'll care to mention the Koko. Koko, yes. So we've recently learned from the trade mission to the UK that the contracts with bananas for 2022 is at risk. Koko appears to be or is one of the products that can ease that transition to another valuable product. As it stands in Saint Lucia, there's a shortage of Koko beans. Yes. The demand for Koko on the market keeps going up and the price keeps going up. We cannot supply enough Koko for internal needs and for the export market. So Koko is a viable product, especially when you add value to it. So if you're looking at wet and dry beans, you may just be breaking even. But once you look at value added like the powder, the Koko sticks and the chocolate, then you see some real super profits coming in. There is this structure at Angers. That is the Koko fomentary. Oh, yes. What's the situation of that? We have had that facility disused for a number of years. Pusans expressed interest, but they have not taken up the use of the facility. We recently, within the last two months, published an expression of interest for Pusans interested and we got a number of Pusans who have expressed an interest, a genuine interest in running that Koko fomentary. So the next step for us is to evaluate those expressions and sit with the ranking, the priority bidder and have discussions, negotiations and enter into some agreement for the use of that facility. But under the same program, is there some dialogue with Hotel Shukula? And because they are doing quite a lot of Koko, I know there is some arrangement with farmers where they give farmers plants and the farmers would sell to them and, of course, they export to the UK. How is the ministry in terms of partnership? Yes, so the ministry is in terms of partnership. We work with all major stakeholders, but they work right now in terms of Hotel Shukula is discussions with Koko Shukula. So you'd find that Hotel Shukula, the rest. Discussions are going on in the industry to further the industry. What we have done in terms of real steps is with other persons like FAO in terms of value chain, what we've done, compete Caribbean in terms of training the Koko Research Center in terms of the flavors of Koko, analysis of Koko, what's affecting Koko. And through this year's budget, we want to, or the next year's budget, I should say, we want to embark on the Koko Sector Enhancement Project. We've made a submission for some money so that we can rehabilitate some of those Koko fields, expand certain acreages, and help the farmers in terms of the pest and disease control, the rodents and the blackboard. So that is on the way. To complement that as well, we have put in a request for mechanization, some tillers to help and some tractors to help in terms of land preparation. So we are looking at Koko and other products in a big way. Great. Epiculture, I realize this industry is growing rapidly, especially with COVID has done, yes, some negatives, but it has done some positives. People became more innovative and, you know, so now there are quite a few persons who have gone into the production of honey. What is the ministry doing in that regard? We have, within the veteran livestock division, we have a small unit of one person plus some persons that have been trained to help persons in becoming better in terms of beekeeping and the agricultural practices associated with that. We've also given some support to cooperative in terms of helping them with their management, because we have at Lakai a facility to process honey that has not been used as well. Hold that point, because I want to continue, but we do for our break. You are watching agriculture and the move. Stay tuned. Don't go away. Honey is coming up. When you're out at sea, there are no service stations along the way or supermarkets for a quick stop if you need something. It is essential that everything you would need while at sea is on the boat before you leave. That's why pre-sea checks are so important. Checks should be carried out by more than one person to ensure that all essentials are on board. Pre-sea checks should include food stores, extra water and fuel, navigational equipment, safety gear and communication equipment. Before heading out to sea, always ensure that all equipment is in working order. You are stocked up on food and also extra fuel. Call the Lighthouse to inform them of your voyage plan and inform someone responsible of your departure time and estimate the time of arrival back on shore. For more information on obtaining a license to fish, contact the Department of Fisheries at 468-4143. Welcome back to the program, Agriculture and the Move. With me, our permanent secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, Mr Barry Morphelis here, and of course we're discussing lots of programs and projects and achievements in that ministry. Mr Peers, we're talking about the epiculture and of course honey production, which is growing. Lots of persons wanting to get into it now. We spoke about a facility in Lakai. Yes, we do have a facility in Lakai that is just waiting to be used to process honey so that it can facilitate trade, especially to the export market. You know we have our SPS requirements to trade, but as it starts now, honey is in high demand locally. So on the domestic market, you have a high demand for honey. So we need to fulfill that demand as well as there's export potential for honey. We have recently partnered and Jeff has been doing a lot of work in terms of epiculture. And on the 9th and 10th of December, we have the first ever honey show, where we feature in honey products and honey related products. There will be a judging categories, judging, prizes, announcement. So on the 9th and 10th of December at Constitution Park, everyone should come down and see what St. Lucia has to offer. A lot of us in St. Lucia, in terms of the agro-processing products, we are not aware that St. Lucia is so skilled and we are so blessed in terms of the variety and quality of products that we can produce. So it's an opportunity, it's an exhibition, opportunity for us to come see and support. Definitely. I know the minister has articulated quite a lot recently on the banana sector. I still think within that forum between today, we should not leave it out. We should at least say something about it. Such an important industry. It's sad to see the way we are now with it. You know, with just a small window of opportunity. And I think I'm saying it's our last chance for marketing. Bananas, regional bananas. We still have a market for regional bananas. We do export to bananas to Barbados. To Trinidad and especially. Well, not specifically Trinidad because of the currency issue, but we want to restart that. The two antigas and kids and the like, we are exporting, but we'd like to increase the export to other countries. In terms of the UK market, again, we have experience over the last two years, the issues with black sugar as a rise in that, preventing us from exporting the prolonged drought. The issues with maximum residual limits, which is a trade barrier to the UK, where the bananas had to be dumped because we did not comply with those trading positions and restrictions on the chemical use of the fungicide used to treat crown rot. So all of that and then we had Elsa. Again, we followed that damage. So consistently over the last two years, we've not been able to provide the quantity and quality of bananas required on the UK market. And in the UK, it was made clear that they require a commitment by Sanbushan growers in terms of providing the quality of bananas and not overgrade, not overgrade bananas, but quality bananas that is consistent that they receiving from places like the Dominican Republic, Ghana and the Latin American countries. So that is what we need to do to export on a consistent level because Sanbushan bananas receives, we receive a high premium, the fair trade price for bananas. Exactly. So once we can export another fair trade banana brand, the banana is the price is very good for the farmer. But yes, I don't, something I don't understand. We're dealing with mature people, mature farmers. How much more can we tell them that quality is important for the survival of the industry? What more can we do? I know that there has been through the Banana Productivity Improvement Project. There's been extensive hand-holding. There's been training with the provided inputs in terms of oil, fertilizer, irrigation, pack houses, toilets. We've done all that under that program. Helping farmers become global gap certified. All of that has happened. So the owners really now lies on the farmer to ensure that the quality of the product they produce because they are in fact hurting themselves and the entire industry. Having said so, we are also seeking with the restructuring or looking at the industry to strengthen the inspection system. So the banana inspectorate in some way has to be strengthened if we are to ensure that bananas continue to be supplied to the UK. The other thing is, I don't know why farmers keep doing this for years. I remember when I joined the ministry as an extension officer, there was a demand for ginger, all right. And when it came to a first election, it was not that stringent. You just back the ginger and you send it across, right. The demand was there, the price was good, right. Instead of the farmers increasing the acreage for production, they went and harvest what we call the Jejum Dule, you know. And they put three-quarter of this in the bag and a quarter of the ginger. They lost that market, right. The dashing is another one. You know, they used to put malenga in the thing, you know. I mean, at this stage, are we supposed to be, you know, telling the farmers not to do this, man? That's ridiculous. I mean, you remember the copper industry, you know, they put in stones in the things, you know, smashing the cogs on the wheels or, I mean, come on, where will it stop? So now we have bananas and we need to put our best food forward. But the other area we're seeing some declines in terms of quality and we have to be careful is seamos. Yes. So the export market, we have to ensure that we don't give under-grade seamos or low-quality seamos. So we have to ensure that the markets, that we have the high-value markets, we protect them and that at the end of the supply chain, we give the customer good quality. Yeah, but apparently the quality of seamos, which is, again, another commodity that is like a gold rush because of COVID, people have found time to go. But then if it's done, the marketing is done properly, the selection is done properly, it can work. But apparently you have a lot of backdoor. How can it, how it leaves the San Lucia? You know, you have to get your Faito to get it out there. But apparently, you know, it gets over there without that. And that's where the quality issue comes in. But what the Faito does, the Faito says to you that this product is free of pestle and disease. It does not necessarily like the banana. Yes. The banana, you see, it's free from the pink millibug. But it does not, it does not deal with the over-grade issue that you would have. So the Faito does not necessarily deal with that. You need to actually look at the quality of seamos or quality of banana being exported. And then again, you need to perhaps have a filtering agency to deal with that. Yes, that's the other thing. Another commodity that I think we have, we have done a lot of work with FAU, has given off a lot of assistance in that regard. That's the cassava. Cassava. Where we are now? In terms of cassava, we've performed that value chain analysis with FAU. But there is an ongoing consultancy with the OECS to look at, to look at that as well, to look at added value to cassava and taking it to another level. Building on what the FAU consultancy has done and adding more value to cassava, seeing what else can be done with cassava. But we've done so much with cassava in terms of the studies at Cardi, the varieties. We've done in-house the waxing of cassava to ensure that the shelf life goes beyond the normal three or four days to expand it to that 12, 13 days. Including vacuum packing. Including vacuum packing. We've done that. We've had workshops on the processing of cassava, the cultivation of cassava. So we've done a lot of work. And remember, you highlighted the promotion of the cassava mash. Yes. Even that was done. That was done. So a lot of work has gone into cassava. And now we have to allow the persons in the industry to build on that work. And again, the issue with things like cassava mash is the inconsistency with supply. Yes. So when the suppliers in the bakeries are looking for cassava mash and you start to supply them, then the supply runs out. Yes, because imagine you had FEO came down. I think they gave a piece of equipment for the use in the cassava production. They brought down a master beaker to work with the beakers down here. So much so you had bros beaker in VA for supply and bread, cassava bread. You also have mani's bakery, you know, and it was going well. But right now you cannot find that. People were buying that it was in demand. So what can we do now to ensure the production of cassava? We have to start with the production system again, ensure that there's enough cassava on the cultivation for a consistent supply. So we now have to go back to our extension and go back to our marketing unit to ensure that all along the chain, we have what is required, the quantities required on a consistent level. So the planting material, we have to study the planting material from propagation, good planting material, the soils available for it, the processing of it in terms of the food safety and food health, market access and the like. And of course, affordable inputs, which is you have to look at at cultivation of production along the entire value chain for any crop and cassava is no different. Yeah, but the point is, I mean, where do we go? I mean, is it part and parcel of the annual work program for extension? That's enough for that. Yes, that is that is that is the only crop currently that is not under the poor view of the extension department is bananas. OK. Only bananas, which there's a separate unit for banana extension. I understand. Yeah. So all other crops, your extension officer, and we have seven, seven extension region offices supposed to assist with all the technical aspects of cultivation and the treatment of any crop, including cassava. But if you need, if you need good planting material, then your extension officer again, supposed to refer you to the propagation department or to another person who has good planting material, a propagation does not happen. Oh, but then there's a conversation need to be had with extension and the whole relationship between, you know, the propagation unit, because something's not happening there. I mean, we have to be we have to be we cannot sugar coat it. So we have to really look at it and see. But again, let me see to the to the listening public and the farmers that we do have on our website, we do have tech packs which assist you in the production of various items. So they are about 50, 50 tech packs on the website to assist you with production and the treatment of pests and disease. Final words from you, sir. Well, agriculture is doing a lot. It's already that we are we are doing a lot. We have a lot. We just ended our media review in terms of seeing where we are at. After six months, the government has allocated resources to us, financial, human, given us infrastructure. And we need to account for that. But we are being pulled in all sorts of directions. You have external agencies. They want to gender this. You want that we need to keep focus as a ministry and we are keeping focus. So our focus is on the enhancement of food, food production systems, food safety. We're looking at the whole idea of traceability. And we want to ensure that we optimize the use of the resources that are allocated to us because the only way we are going to recover economically and otherwise is to ensure that we work well, we perform well and we use the resources we have wisely. Definitely. Thank you very much, Mr. P.S. And, of course, our for our food security to be safe. Yes, thank you again. You've been watching agriculture in the move. Thank you for viewing the program and also remember, agriculture is our business and eat fresh. St. Lucia's best. I'm Philip Sidney, saying goodbye and see you again.