St. Kitts is advancing its agricultural sector under the government's 25×30 agenda, an expansion of the earlier 25×25 plan, with several key crops now entering export markets and others showing export potential.
According to Minister of Agriculture Samal Duggins, watermelon production has recently increased beyond domestic consumption levels, enabling surplus fruit to be exported. "Today, St. Kitts and Nevis celebrates the fact that we have produced more watermelons than we consume, and we have been exporting. Today, we celebrate a number of crops that we have done that way," he said.
In parallel, training and capacity-building programs are being implemented for banana and plantain producers to strengthen cultivation, pest management, and post-harvest handling practices. These efforts aim to prepare growers for both domestic supply and future exports. "Right now, we are training our banana and plantain producers because in a few months, we'll be producing more bananas and plantains than we can consume, and the idea is to have them prepared for export," Duggins added.
Crops identified for export growth include peppers, bananas, plantains, kale, lettuce, watermelons, cucumbers, and tomatoes. Officials expect that continued investment, technology adoption, and production efficiency will support St. Kitts' goal of shifting from a net importer to a net exporter of agricultural goods in the coming years.
Source: Winnfm
