By the Caribbean Journal staff

Despite challenges ahead, the future of agriculture in the British Virgin Islands “must continue,” Natural Resources Minister Dr Kedrick Pickering said at the opening of the territory’s Farmers’ Week.

In order to develop, however, the sector must adapt, he said.

“We must look at it from a different perspective and we must entertain the idea of diversity if we are going to be self sufficient,” he said.

“It is also reasonable to say that our situation is further compounded by the fact that our concern is not only about our 30,000 residents that make up our country but also the thousands of individuals that visit our shores every year.”

Tourism, he said, was therefore inextricably linked to the agriculture sector, and the territory’s ability to ensure an acceptable level of food production.

“Looking towards the future, we can all envision a Virgin Islands that is more self-sufficient,” he said. “We have the means to do it and we just need to adopt the attitude to make it happen.”