More Support Coming for Rural Communities

Contact: Rose Marie Harris

Tuesday, October 16, 2001 – Saint Lucians living in rural communities which have been adversely affected by the restructuring of the banana industry, can look forward to some more relief from Government.

In an address to mark World Food Day, Agriculture Minister, Hon. Cassius Elias, said there will soon be a further injection of resources into the Social Recovery Programme  to support the Rural Employment Programme. Priority will be given to the most affected communities.

“To progress in the fight against hunger, government, the private sector and the international community must focus their efforts in the rural areas where over seventy per cent of the poor and the hungry live,” Elias said.

He added: “Our government has  recognised this fact and we have embarked on a number of interventions that seek to tackle the problem from both ends – poverty alleviation and food and nutrition.  Our efforts at poverty alleviation is well known through the success of the Poverty Reduction Fund, Basic Needs Trust Fund, Rural Enterprise Development Project, the James Belgrave Enterprise Fund and PROUD.”

Several activities were held over the last week leading up to World Food Day. The activities culminate today with the Agriculture Sector Awards where several organisations and individuals who have contributed significantly to the development of agriculture throughout the years, will be recognized.

The theme for World Food Day was “Fight Hunger To Reduce Poverty.”

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