A Government press release says that the MALHE’s new strategy includes taking farming on Montserrat to a higher level, by introducing new farming methods and technology.  It plans to diversify and modernise agricultural practices on Montserrat, in a way that they will be compatible with natural resource conservation, economically viable, based on knowledge management of the market and centered on technology and innovation processes through agribusiness.

MALHE announced at the close of November that the ministry has pumped close to 1.6 million dollars each year into improving agricultural production on Montserrat.  In addition, the ministry is working to open up new funding opportunities to help young people on Montserrat to get into agricultural production.

The financial injection of 1.6 million dollars into the agricultural sector is part of the Ministry’s strategy to ensure that Montserrat can produce more high quality food locally and import less.  Not to mention, this strategy promises to preserve the life expectancy of an ailing and aging occupation.

Minister of Agriculture, Lands, Housing, and the Environment, Margaret Dyer-Howe

According to the Minister of MALHE, Margaret Dyer-Howe, “Government has been investing in agriculture to the tune of approximately $1.6 million per annum.  This does not include personnel emoluments and other technical services.  Whenever there has been a major ash fall, we have assisted small farmers financially, technically, and provided free tractor services and seedlings, etc.  We have offered incentives and encouragement to farmers at our Annual Exhibitions over the years.  We have purchased new tractors in order to improve the service to farmers at a subsidized rate.  We want to take big steps on the road that will lead us to being able to produce more of our food ourselves, and import less.  We need to ensure that our food is of the highest quality, and safe to eat from the farm all the way up to the table.”

The minister added further, “We will work with funding agents and local financial institutions to see if an agricultural financing window can be opened in Montserrat.  I cannot stress the importance and advantage of investing in agriculture.  Some countries have established a ‘funding window for youths’ to provide low interest loans especially to attract young agribusiness entrepreneurs to establish profitable enterprises as a viable business opportunity and career option, recognizing the aging population of our existing farmers.  This loan facility provides not only attractive credit terms but complete support in technical/managerial, professional advisors, enterprise handbooks, and training programmes.”

The ministry plans to start identifying young people for the financing project, once an agreement is reached with a funding agency or local financial institutions. 

With its first newly-erected greenhouse, Montserrat’s farmers are now beginning to experiment with viable options using new-age technology to combat the environmental damages of agricultural production in an environment exposed to volcanic hazards such as ash fall and acid rain.  Hence, Montserrat continues to push towards establishing and maintaining its own sustainable development, in spite of repeated hardships faced by its ongoing volcanically generated economic crisis.