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Sejah Farm of the Virgin Islands

Sejah Farm of the Virgin Islands. The Business of Improving and Supporting Local Agriculture For St. Croix Economic Development Initiative & The Agriculture Development Corporation 2014 Democratic Primary Election Forum Gubernatorial, Senatorial and Delegate Congress.

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Sejah Farm of the Virgin Islands

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  1. Sejah Farm of the Virgin Islands The Business of Improving and Supporting Local Agriculture For St. Croix Economic Development Initiative & The Agriculture Development Corporation 2014 Democratic Primary Election Forum Gubernatorial, Senatorial and Delegate Congress

  2. What is Agriculture • Agriculture is the set of activities that transform the environment for the production of animals and plants for human use

  3. Agriculture Science • Agricultural science is a broad multidisciplinary field of biology that encompasses the parts of exact, natural, economic and social sciences that are used in the practice and understanding of agriculture.

  4. Ag-Devleopment Education Science Research Technology Planning Implementation

  5. VI Agriculture Potential • Potential not “acted on” or “not initiated” remains unprogressive and that is a problem for developing our Island’s Agriculture. • And so remains our Island Agricultural Industry. Sejah Farm believes farmers and our island community can make a change. Whatsoever is your discipline or education may be, we must hold one mind and one goal. We must produce local food for all and developing our local food security and sovereignty. Supporting a “Virgin Islands Local Food Movement”.

  6. Possibilities are Endless • The Virgin Islands population is estimate at 105,000 people between islands, if we all where to purchase at least $10.00/week on local food from any farm or spend it on various farms that will become and investment of $1,050,000/week spent on supporting our local food development in the territory. Within 52 weeks our community would have invested $54,600,000 in just one year.

  7. The Development of Reliant Food Economy • We import 1.2 billion dollars of raw and process food annual (the last report I read), Now, consider what the Virgin Islands will become if we can produce 10% of the food we all consume or grow. Let’s all do the math. We can truly turn the VI around with Agriculture. • A “local movement food” is a medium for the development of a greater VI social and economic revolution.

  8. Local Food Soverignty/Systems • Local foodFood which sustainable production, processing, distribution, and consumption is integrated to enhance the economic, environmental and social health of the Virgin Islands • Food sovereigntyThe right of the US Virgin Islands (peoples and communities) to define their own agricultural, labor, fishing, food and land policies, which are ecologically, socially, economically and culturally appropriate to their unique circumstances (reducing cash export for import food). • Food systemThe food system can be broken down to three basic components: biological, economic/political, and social/cultural • Biological refers to the organic processes of food production • Economic/political refers to institutional (how local government determine the importance of agriculture and food production within its community) moderation of different group's (Universities, Hospitals, Schools, Supermarket, Wholesaler and distributors) participation in and control of the system • Social/cultural refers to the "personal relations, community values, and cultural relations that affects (nutrition and health) people and Community use of food.

  9. Power of Working Together • The power of our community, Government and Private Partner moving in the same direction economically could change the social, political, economical, and environmental and wellness of our VI community through developing our territory agriculture.

  10. Developing A VI Agricultural industry would require the need for all the following: • Education from K-12 • UVI initiating Ag Science degree and working with student form grade 8 thru 12 grade • Work with existing fulltime farmers • Total control of all land presently under it stewardship • Restructure the Department of Agriculture to work on the behalf of developing the ag-industry starting with farming (food production) • Annual budgets that will support a plan for the next 10-20 year bench marking every goal.

  11. Developing VI Agricultural industry • Redevelop and Restructure the Department of Agriculture as a “state department of Agriculture” to work on the behalf of developing the Agriculture industry starting with farming (food production). This will mean redefining all of its present divisions and creating new ones to meet the needs of the farmers and the development of the Ag-Industry.

  12. Developing VI Agricultural industry • VIDOA Budget that will support a comprehensive plan. These will mean investing a minimum of $100 million for the next 10-20 years bench marking every goal

  13. Developing VI Agricultural industry • Agricultural chemistry • Agricultural diversification • Agricultural economics • Agricultural engineering • Agricultural geography • Agricultural philosophy • Agricultural marketing • Agrophysics • Agribusiness • Agricultural science • Agroforestry • Agronomy • Animal husbandry • Animal science • Animal breeding • Animal nutrition • Agronomy • Botany • Theoretical production ecology • Horticulture • Plant breeding • Plant fertilization • Agribusiness • Agricultural science • Agroforestry • Agronomy • Animal husbandry • Ecology • Aquaculture • Biological engineering • Genetic engineering • Nematology • Microbiology • Plant pathology • Environmental science • Entomology • Food science • Human nutrition • Irrigation and water management • Soil science • Agrology • Waste management • Weed science

  14. Developing VI Agricultural industry • Total over site of all land presently under it stewardship creation a true land bank for the development of the territory agriculture – Changing existing law “not withstanding” existing local procurement laws. Remove all land held by the Department of Property and Procurement that are under the stewardship of the Department of Agriculture and make the VIDOA the agency that has total control of these lands. Including all lands that was remove (within the last 15 years) which was under VIODA stewardship be restore for the purpose of developing the industry

  15. Developing VI Agricultural industry • UVI initiating Ag Science degree and working with the Department of Education to assist student finding career interest in agriculture from grade 8 thru 12 grade and/partnering with other universities in the education of ag-careers. Including Partnering with other Universities for the purpose of having students who have enter the study of agriculture making it possible for them to continue their advance studies (a two year degree program in agriculture in 1978 and about 1984 it was abandon)

  16. Developing VI Agricultural industry • The VIDOA and UVI Work with existing fulltime farmers and create new ones. By continue educating farmers through it land grant divisions CES and AES (research and education)

  17. Developing VI Agricultural industry • The Department of Education Comply with local law of Agriculture in the class room (curriculum from grades K thru 12)

  18. Developing VI Agricultural industry • Enforce Act 6836 The Sustainable Farming Act • Revisit Rudolph Schulterbrant Policy Guidelines for the Developing of Virgin Islands Agriculture • Strengthen Government Policy on development of the industry • Tort Reform: Insurance and property Tax

  19. Require Immediate Attention“Low Hanging Fruits” • Legislate an Agriculture Advisory Group (initiated by present Ag-Commissioner) • An Agriculture Think Thank – For the purpose of looking at the issues of developing agriculture in the Virgin Islands • Soil and Water Conservation District (initiated by present Ag-Commissioner) • Total over site of all land presently under Ag. stewardship creation of a true land bank • Tax Tort Reform

  20. Require Immediate Action“Low Hanging Fruits” • Development of a Soil and Water use Plan for the Virgin Islands

  21. Kalalloo.comAgriculture/Famers/Chefs Channel check out: www.farmersmarketvi.com, www.guestschef.com www.chefsgottalent.com. We must move our island agriculture forward.

  22. Sejah Farm of the Virgin Islands SEJAH FARMS OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS Boer Goats/Boer Goat Crosses - Meat & Herd Improvement 9B Castle Burke, Frederiksted P.O Box 3443 Kingshill, St. Croix USVI 00851 Tel: (340)-277-6046/9392 Fax (340)-773-8065 Website: www.sejahfarm.com E-mail: sejahfarm@unitedstates.vi

  23. Thank You

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