Gov’t wants to create greater agriculture–tourism linkages

One way of reducing Saint Lucia’s high food import bill is to encourage the use of locally grown agricultural products by the hotel sector, something which Tourism Minister Dominic Fedee said his government plans to expand. The minister said he has started discussions with his cabinet colleague, Agriculture Minister Ezechiel Joseph, who, according to him, understands the important role that the tourism sector could play to drive agriculture. “The two of us have been having tremendous discussions on where we can take agriculture-tourism linkage. But I think this is a time for us to act and not talk too much,” Fedee told St. Lucia News Online (SNO) in a recent interview. Several studies have been done in this area and Fedee is of the opinion that the only thing left to do now, is to carry out several consultation with all stakeholders to determine the future of this important partnership. The minister, a former communications professional who worked in the tourism sector, told SNO that during that period, he witnessed first-hand how successful agriculture-tourism linkage can be. He said it takes a simple approach, which is to “get out there and do it.” “Tell the farmers what you want, sign the contract and have them deliver at the quantity and quality that you require,” he added. He continued, “I think we take for granted the genius and creativity of our people, and I think if we give the farmers the direction to say to them that these are the crops that hoteliers are buying and these are the prices, they will deliver.”

Full Article: http://www.stlucianewsonline.com/govt-wants-to-create-greater-agriculture-tourism-linkages/