Farmers in Anguilla have been advised to explore the latest farming techniques in order to achieve their desired goals in agricultural production.
The timely advice has come from Norma Samuel, an Extension Agent at the University of Florida who is also a PH.D candidate there. Ms Samuel, who is originally from Antigua and Barbuda, is currently involved in a research dissertation, for her degree, entitled “Competences and Professional Development Needs of Extension Officers in CARICOM.”
She has been in Anguilla to meet with personnel at the Department of Agriculture, with responsibility for extension services, as well as with a number of selected farmers in various parts of the island. “What I am looking at are areas of strength in terms of the different competences and hopefully to identify where weaknesses exist,” she explained. “I will compile that data and provide it to the Department to decide what areas of training they should focus on and to incorporate in their strategic plan. I will also look at the data for the region, as a whole, and hopefully the governments will decide on what areas they could do collaborative training.”
Commenting on the importance of the agricultural sector, Ms Samuel said: “Across the Caribbean tourism is declining. That tells me that we should focus on agricultural production because we just cannot put all our ‘eggs’ in the tourism basket because that industry can go down anytime. It is important for us to involve the youth in agriculture, and each department of agriculture should make that a priority.”
Asked what advice she would offer to farmers in Anguilla, Ms Samuel replied: “They should try to keep up with the latest happenings within the agricultural sector and embrace the adoption of new technologies. There is a good batch of staff members at the Department of Agriculture in Anguilla whom I am very impressed with. I think they will be able to give farmers the tools that they need. Once the Ministry provides its personnel with the tools that they also need, agriculture in Anguilla can flourish.”
