WASHINGTON: Barbados must step up to the plate and reduce its dependency on food imports, says Agriculture Minister Dr David Estwick. Blaming the current shortage of some fruits and vegetables in local supermarkets on the recent passage of Hurricane Matthew, Dr Estwick stressed the island would be better off if it produced and consumed more local foods.
“If we do not produce our own food, we will be forced to rely on costly imports and by extension put our own food security and labour force at risk. The recent shortages of imported fruits and vegetables in the local supermarkets due to the passage of Hurricane Matthew in Florida, is evidence of Barbados’ vulnerability.
“The reality is that events that impact negatively on food production overseas will undoubtedly affect us if we allow this status quo to continue,” Dr Estwick warned as he addressed the graduation ceremony of the Youth Agri-preneurship Incubator programme at the Savannah Hotel last night.
