Consumers flock Farmers Fair

Farmer, Kevin Williams, tends to a customer at the Farmers Fair at the Noel Lloyd Positive Action Movement Park. (Photo: Fareeza Haniff)

Scores of consumers and tourists alike flocked the Farmers Fair being held at the Noel Lloyd Positive Action Movement Park today, Friday February 17, as farmers bring the curtains down on the week of activities in observance of Farmers Week.

The event saw farmers displaying their many produce, as others used the opportunity to sell their many local delicacies. While some farmers hailed the week of activities as a success, others think that more could have been done.

A farmer all his life, Gregory Smith said that the response from the public could have been better. 

“It could have been a lot better but we still went along with it. More farmers could have taken part in it but I think some of them have some constraints so they didn’t come out.”

Another farmer on the other hand, Kevin Williams, said that he received an ‘extravagant’ response from members of the public.

“It’s amazing…the stuff don’t last. We got good stuff and the people are buying them like crazy so the only thing I can say is that it has been pretty good,” Williams said.

Williams has been in the farming business for just over two years, and according to him, it has its challenges.

“Its been a challenge but hey, it’s a passion that we have, it’s something that we love. It’s not something that we do as a job…there is nothing that’s going to stop us…as much diseases and problems and pests that we encounter, we will do our research, find solutions, get back to it and continue doing what we do.”

Meanwhile, both of these farmers agree that the farming industry needs immediate attention, as they pointed out several areas that need to be improved.

Smith told this news site that farmers need immediate assistance in rectifying the water supply issue.

“We need some assistance, especially in getting some water during the dry season. The farmers haven’t had a meeting with the minister as yet but it is something that is ongoing and we know there’s a problem of getting water, but we try to work it out and get along as best as we could,” Smith said.

Expressing similar sentiments was Williams who also noted that the water and electricity issues need to be rectified.

He is also urging the new Government to subsidize some of the items so that farmers can produce more.

“I’m just waiting now on the new administration to see what they’re going to say and then I’ll throw in my 50 cents and say what I see needs to be done…there are issues like electricity, water, seeds, supplies… subsidize some things for us as farmers… the more help we get, the more we can produce.”

Farmers Week was officially declared open on February 10. At the opening ceremony, Premier and Minister for Tourism, Dr. the Honourable Orlando Smith had announced that his administration plans to ‘twin’ agriculture and tourism, in an effort to make the agricultural sector more effective and productive.

It was held under the theme, “Celebrating 20 years of BVI Culture Through Agriculture.”