CHARLESTOWN, Nevis — McLevon ‘Mackie’ Tross, one of the island’s leading farmers in the use of greenhouse technology on Nevis, has underscored the need for farmers on the island to be treated with greater respect.

Tross, the featured speaker at the Ministry of Agriculture’s Agenda 2021 forum at the St. Paul’s Anglican Church Hall on January 19, spoke on the issue while delivering the feature address before stakeholders in the agriculture sector on Nevis.

“The landscape of our farmers is changing,” said Tross. “Farmers are entrepreneurs, yes, business people who are responsible for feeding our nation and must be treated with dignity and respect.”

“There is also a need to educate farmers to better position them to achieve greater yields and returns on their investments,” said Tross, the owner and manager of A-1Farms at Gingerland. “There is a need to educate our farmers on the use of proper record and bookkeeping; crop yield estimation, cost of production and return on investment calculations.

“This can be achieved through the Small Enterprise Development Unit (SEDU) and the Department of Agriculture,” he continued. “We must utilize our allied agencies the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), the Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI) and the Taiwanese if we do not have the skill set in house.”

Tross expressed the need for greater knowledge on the importance of agriculture, not only for farmers but the entire nation including every preschooler.

He also said technology is significant in the agriculture sector. He acknowledged that opportunities to enhance productivity can be found in new and emerging technologies which can help farmers adapt to an ever-changing environment.

“Technology can provide the agricultural industry with tools and information to make more informed decisions and improve productivity.” explained Tross. “Technology includes Digital Agriculture, Green House Production, Hydroponic practices, and exploring tissue culture.

“Digital Agriculture,” explained Tross “is the use of digital technology to integrate agricultural production from the farm to the consumer.

“Digital technologies have the potential to provide farmers with the information and ability to meet these challenges and seize opportunities for growth,” he said. “It also enables improved traceability of agricultural products, providing peace of mind for consumers and increased value for farmers.”

The forum was the third in a series hosted by the Ministry of Agriculture for stakeholders in the agriculture sector to enable the ministry to report on the past year and to chart the course for the ensuing year.

Among those present at the forum were: Hon. Mark Brantley, Premier of Nevis; Hon. Alexis Jeffers, Deputy Premier and Minister of Agriculture; Randy Elliott, Director of the Department of Agriculture; Floyd Liburd, Deputy Director; Steve Reid, Chief Extension Officer; Ron Dublin Collins, Federal Permanent Secretary in Ministry of Agriculture; Sharon Jones, IICA Representative; and Kistian Flemming, CARDI representative.

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CHARLESTOWN, Nevis — The surgical team at the Alexandra Hospital is being congratulated for life-saving surgery on a shark attack victim by doctors in the United States of America and the management of the Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine (RUSVM), the health facility will continue to deliver top notch service to locals as well, according to Hon. Hazel Brandy-Williams, Junior Minister of Health in the Nevis Island Administration (NIA)

“We celebrate the accolades from the US doctors and will continue to ensure that our residents receive similar care at our facility,” said Mrs. Brandy-Williams on January 20. “The Ministry of Health and Gender Affairs looks forward to better days ahead for our people as we continue to provide the quality service that they need. Our mantra for 2021 is ‘The Year of Endless Possibilities.’ We endeavour to exceed all expectations by providing professional service.”

Mrs. Brandy-Williams used the opportunity to commend the surgical team at the hospital for its noteworthy efforts to save the RUSVM medical student attacked by a shark while swimming with friends.

“The shark attack on January 9 that threw the Federation into frenzy was quite unfortunate for a Ross University female student,” said Mrs. Brandy-Williams. “I compliment the doctors, nurses and other medical professionals who played a role in making the student’s experience at Alexandra Hospital as pleasant and as successful as possible.

“The surgical team, headed by Dr. Cardell Rawlins, must be commended for their quick and effective response to the situation which could have ended tragically,” she said. “The information shared was that everyone was calm and very efficient.”

During a January 15 virtual meeting with Dr. the Hon. Timothy Harris, Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis, a three-member team of senior RUSVM officials called to express gratitude and offer commendation to the Coast Guard, the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force and the surgical team at the Alexandra Hospital in Nevis, for their quick response in assisting one of their students who suffered significant injury in a shark attack.

“The officials passed on compliments from the trauma team in the US to the medical team on the island, stating that the surgery was comparable to anything that could have been performed anywhere in the US. It was also said that the quick response obviously prevented the situation from being far worse.”

Hon. Hazel Brandy-Williams, Junior Minister of Health in the Nevis Island Administration.

Dr. Cardell Rawlins, Chief of Staff at the Alexandra Hospital on Nevis.

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