During the 2018 budget debates, the Minister of Agriculture Eugene Hamilton of St. Kitts-Nevis, said that the agricultural sector has seen significant improvements in 2017.
According to thestkittsnevisobserver.com, Minister Hamilton stated that while there were some challenges in the agricultural sector, food production grew from 799 to 979 metric tonnes, an increase of 22.5 percent over the last year. He also noted there were significant increases in the cultivation of onions, pineapples and watermelons. Production of onions increased by 48.2 percent, pineapples by more than 200 percent.
The Ministry will be focusing on dealing with crop and livestock losses and the effects that climate change will have on the agricultural sector. The goal will be to have a more sustainable and secure food situation in the federation. Hamilton furthermore encouraged the islanders to buy locally.