July 22, 2010… Minister of Agriculture, Lands, Housing & the Environment Hon. Hilson Baptiste has emphasized the need for farmers to begin to examine the sector as a business rather than a way of life.
 
The minister, made the comments, while, addressing a cross –section of farmers at the Heritage Hotel, Wednesday night, during a feed workshop for poultry and pig farmers.
 
The underlined objective of the workshop seeks to increase and improve skills, and increase knowledge in preparation for a more productive industry.
 
The East Caribbean Group of Companies (ECGC), sponsored workshop, was held in collaboration with the Veterinary & Livestock Division in the Ministry Of Agriculture, Lands, Housing & the Environment. It yielded a large turn-out of farmers. Their supplier on the island Inter –Island Sales were also represented. 
 
Among, the officials who gave remarks were Leroy Warren, Managing Director, Inter –Island Sales and Martin LaBourde, East Caribbean Group of Companies (ECGC), General Manger. 
 
The facilitator, Dr. George Wesoloski of Caribbean Feed, Inc. of North Carolina, sponsors and officials from the Veterinary and Livestock Division Diahan Gomes Animal Health Assistant and Beverly Thomas administrative assistant, visited various farms, on Wednesday, in an effort to record their practices to make way for recommendations.
 
Minister Baptiste said the workshop is timely since Antigua & Barbuda spends approximately 70 –million per annum on poultry imports.
 He reiterated that, the ministry, through the Livestock Division should request business-plan from farmers, so, that individual would begin to look at the sector as a business.
 
The minister stated that, the serious of the sector is a critical step towards the lowering of the food bills, “the veterinary and livestock division is reporting that pork imports for the period May –June has increased…”
 
He urged farmers to, “stop playing games form themselves into corporative, as none of you can do it alone, you up must up your productions, so that the gov’t can protect the market.  Not one of you can do it alone and guaranteed standard and quality.”
 
Minister Baptiste stressed that farmers should register, as part of proper farm management practices, contributing to statutory corporations.  To this end, the government contributes several classes of concessions towards the development of the sector.
 
Additionally, the ministry has moved to furnish farmers with long-term lease arrangements, so that permanent structures could be erected to assist eradicating praedial larceny.
 
This, he added is key to the continuity of the sector, especially, that farming population average age is 50 –years.
 
 “Praedial larceny is one of the biggest problems for the region in agriculture, by the time you leave your farm everything gone,” Minister Baptiste added.
 
Dr. George Wesoloski of Caribbean Feed, Inc. of North Carolina made presentations to the farmers of feed efficiency.
 
He told farmers of the implications of floor laid eggs, wet litter, and overcrowding conditions.
 
Other topics presented were the issues of sanitation, proper lightings mechanism and an effective rodent control program.
 
He noted that poor sanitation and improper feeding patterns could cause significant financial loss. In the worst case scenario, he said bacteria could be passed on from animals to humans.