The Government of Saint Lucia is intensifying efforts to modernize the island’s fisheries and agricultural sectors, with Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Sustainable Development Minister Lisa Jawahir outlining an ambitious programme focused on technology, infrastructure, youth engagement and climate resilience.
Speaking during the June 29 pre-Cabinet press briefing, held in observance of Fisherman’s Feast, the minister said the government is committed to strengthening the blue economy while introducing what she described as a “Green Revolution” aimed at transforming agriculture and improving national food security.
Jawahir acknowledged that the fisheries sector has historically received insufficient attention, despite its importance to the country’s economy and food supply.
“In times past we’ve really seen a low in terms of the development of that sector, and I believe that certainly we can do a whole lot more to continue to support the blue economy,” she said.
She highlighted the challenges faced by fishers, noting that many often return from sea without a catch, underscoring the need for greater investment in modern technology.
“We recognize the challenges that our fishers normally have to go through. Traversing the waters, going out there, sometimes they come back empty-handed and it really sent us a loud message that we have to invest in the technology to really help them identify what it is that is under the waters that can help them come back and really support our food security in Saint Lucia,” Jawahir explained.
The minister said one of the pillars of the government’s Green Revolution plan is expanding support for the fisheries sector through the ongoing Fish Adapt Programme, which is rehabilitating fish landing sites across the island.
She also revealed that discussions are underway with potential partners to further modernize fisheries infrastructure.
“We are currently engaging, having some interesting talks with persons who are interested in supporting the fishery sector in Saint Lucia and I’d really like as Minister to see us get to a place very soon where at least our major fish landing sites, we can see the catch, the cleaning, the processing, complete packaging and well vacuum packaging and cold storage of the fish coming straight out of the ocean,” she said.
While recognizing the cultural tradition of fish vendors travelling communities with coolers, Jawahir said improved processing and cold storage facilities would extend the shelf life of seafood and help maintain food safety standards.
“Not that we want to take away from the culture of them passing around with their coolers in various constituencies but to at least increase the shelf life of the fish and engage in and ensure that we are engaging in maintaining our standards,” she added.
Turning to agriculture, Jawahir said every division within the ministry has aligned its work programme with the Green Revolution initiative, with a particular emphasis on increasing opportunities for women and young people.
She announced plans for a nationwide talent mapping exercise to identify qualified Saint Lucians with agricultural expertise who may currently be employed in other sectors.
“We will be doing a talent mapping search across Saint Lucia. So it will be for persons with any form of agricultural background or certification to submit because I met somebody in the supermarket with a master’s degree in agribusiness. I met somebody who works in a bank with qualification in agriculture and we certainly have a lot of skilled and educated people in Saint Lucia, but the ministry is not fully aware of who those persons are,” the minister said.
Jawahir said she would prefer to utilize local expertise before seeking consultants from overseas.
“Rather than me going out and putting a call for a consultant from outside of Saint Lucia, I would prefer to do a call that engages persons who are talented in Saint Lucia,” she stated.
The minister also outlined plans to incorporate precision agriculture and advanced technology into farming practices through collaboration with the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture.
She said attracting younger people into agriculture will require making the industry more technologically driven.
“Our young people of course have become a little disinterested in agriculture. Yes they see me and they say Minister, we think okay I want a piece of land, I want to be able to plant something, but we want to make it a little easier for them so that we can have succession planning particularly in agriculture,” Jawahir said.
She added that similar succession concerns also exist within the fisheries sector.
“Even yesterday we were having this conversation with the fishermen, the fisherfolk in Saint Lucia, that after they are gone who are they going to pass it on to. And that is why we have to engage in including and increasing our use of technology, in drone support, allowing our young farmers to be able to map their lands, know when to drop the water, know when to supply the fertilizer.”
Among the initiatives announced are greenhouse villages designed to promote protected agriculture by shielding crops from pests and adverse weather.
“That part of agriculture is called protected agriculture. So we will be working on some greenhouse villages where you will see a cluster of greenhouses together with an extension office. The purpose of the greenhouse is really to protect your crop against elements, against insects,” she explained.
The ministry also plans to expand irrigation infrastructure by deploying additional water tanks and drip irrigation systems, particularly in drought-prone farming communities such as La Borne.
Jawahir noted that agricultural specialists are working with farmers to determine the most suitable crops for different regions while improving water management through precision irrigation.