Things kick off on Tortola this Saturday and Sunday with farmers’ and fishers’ exhibition and market days. These events are expected to feature various exhibitions, pumpkin soup and gooseberry stew competitions, livestock displays, food for sale, live entertainment, and games.

Activities will then move over to Jost Van Dyke on March 20 before moving to Virgin Gorda on March 21. As for Anegada, a chicken coop will be installed at the Claudia Creque Educational Centre to serve as a practical educational tool for youngsters to “ensure that young people are actively engaged in the agricultural and fisheries sector in the Virgin Islands.”

A media release from the Premier’s Office, which has portfolio responsibility for agriculture, said the week-long activities will conclude at the Elmore Stoutt High School with a school garden exhibition, and a sampling segment of the produce from that garden.

In the meantime, Director of Agriculture and Fisheries, Theodore James said his staff, the local farming and fishing community, schools, and private sector partners all pitched in to organise the activities.

“The community continues to step up to support these sectors and we are encouraged that Farmers and Fishers’ Week will continue to advance,” James stated.

This year’s theme for Farmers & Fishers’ Week is ‘Farmers and Fishers: Building the Third Pillar of the Economy’.