A collaborative project between the Agricultural Development Center and the Chinese Aid has resulted in a watermelon demonstration station at ADC to use new Chinese technologies to create varieties of watermelon, in more yields and of better quality.
A ceremony was held yesterday, (Tues.) to display the progress, which has been made with the demonstration station, and to have persons taste the different varieties.
They have been able to produce seventeen (17) varieties of watermelon, nine (9) being seeded watermelons and eight (8) seedless watermelon varieties. The seeded varieties include watermelons with yellow skin with red flesh, green skin with red flesh, yellow skin with yellow flesh and green skin with yellow flesh.
April 2021 will make three (3) years of the program being in progress and so far they have trained more than forty (40) persons, including; ADC managers, agricultural officers and farmers.
Minister of Agriculture, Hon. Samantha Marshall thanked the People’s Republic of China for ensuring that they maintained a great level of partnership with the government of Antigua and Barbuda, and for playing a significant role in the Agriculture sector.
Ms. Marshall stated that the current COVID-19 pandemic has really shifted the focus to the agriculture sector and a program like this just better highlights what more can be done to sustain the country.
“It is no secret that Antigua and Barbuda has not held Agriculture as its main earning for the GDP, but I believe that recent times have shown that we have to have a focus and we have to be able to produce as much as possible,” stated Ms. Marshall.
Going forward, Ms. Marshall expressed that including the expansion of the program, she hopes that the Chinese team will be able to go into the farms and interact with more of the farmers to ensure that they too can implement these technologies and increase their production.
In attendance at the ceremony was the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon. E.P Chet Greene who expressed how impressed he was with the varieties of watermelon and to see the melons being grown in Antigua, in a controlled environment.
“I am a proud Antiguan and Barbudan citizen, to see the extent of the possibilities that we have in our country,” stated Mr. Greene.
He also committed to seeing that the program continues and highlighted how important this project is even during this COVID-19 era where the focus has now turned to the Agriculture Industry.
“In an era where food security is totally exposed by the COVID virus, the fact that this project was happening before COVID, speaks to one, a vision and a visionary government and two, the fact that the time has come for even greater investment, involvement, participation and certain benefits to the economy from agriculture,” stated Mr. Greene.
Going forward, he hopes to work closely with the agriculture sector, to ensure that there is greater reliance on local production and certainly, the ultimate goal of increasing and improving food security in Antigua and Barbuda.
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It’s the People’s Republic of China,or just China, not Republic of China. This is serious.
Remains a communist state..6 and half a dozen!
Good news but don’t use too much fertilizer as the melons will explode. Too much fertilizer is detrimental to your health.
Please note: It is the project between the People’s Republic of China and Antigua and Barbuda. You should use the right name!
GMO Melons.
Why couldn’t our local Antiguan & Barbudan born bred farmers be a part of this or be responsible for this?? Why the Chinese?? Why??
The Art Of War is shadowed by, The Art Of Deception.
Those who control your food production, sourcing and supply controls your destiny.
To have given or to give this kind of POWER, to locals will ensure, that the locals are empowered, and will be FREE, to control their own destiny, something which politicians detest, since, they won’t be able to control your, hand to mouth living.
Very well said,Ras Smood.
Antiguans & Barbudans are being duped all over again.
I hope, that this venture does not the way, of the ADM – Archer Daniel’s Midland, MONSANTO etc with their PATENTED SEEDS which they use to run locals farmers out of business, by using, the Legal System.
RASpect…
This is great news. It shows once again that yes we can do it if we are trained to do it. Agriculture is not just something you get up and do. You need to acquire knowledge lots of it. Means you have to go to school, university and more. Get your bachelor, master and perhaps your Phd. They now call the graduates Agricultural Engineers.
From the Sidelines:One does not need a DEGREE IN AGRICULTURE to be good at it.My Grandfather did not have any Degrees.He was very successful at it.He owned several acres of arable lands in Antigua.He planted and reaped more than your so called University Graduates.With their 15 Degrees of Separations.One of the issues I have seen in Antigua for many decades now.We are to hung up on Degrees.We would think if someone has a Degree.He/she is smart,to the contrary.There are hundreds in Antigua and Barbuda very skilled and very,very,bright and smart.They do not have any Degrees.They are successful.
One question; why did the Education System, and Curriculum failed, to incorporate Agricultural Science in the Schools from kindergarten to High School, to encourage, those interested in said field to go after those degrees?
I’ll give you a hint…PPP – Piss Poor Planning, since, only “Dutty Foot” neargah were supposed to be in the dirt working.
As, per Lester Bird TWENTY-ONE years ago, when he was asked, by me, when he had a meeting in Washington, DC with Antiguans & Barbudans, at the Embassy;
“Mr. Bird, PM, look ahead fifty-years, and tell us, what role do you see Agriculture playing in the future development, in the Nation?
Answer from Lester Bird, PM, “the Jews will fly in Our food from Miami.”
How is that, for a leader who should understand, the THREE STAPLES of Life…Food – Shelter – Clothing, and how to put them, in proper perspective to advance, a Nation and its People?
BTW – Tenman your protege has fought individuals such as myself, who have being touting the need, to invest in and develop this Industry.
If he denies it, I’ll call him, a phucking liar to his face; and, I hope that you will be present to witness it.
Why are we growing genetically altered watermelons in Antigua.We have the abilities and know how to grow and reap natural foods in Antigua and Barbuda.We do not need no damn altered diets in our society.Keep on eating GMO foods and we would be dying slowly.Then them China people would be taking over Antigua not Barbuda.
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