ST. GEORGE’S Grenada: A new strategy for agriculture that modernises the sector through effective planning and marketing is being worked out by the Agency for Reconstruction and Development Inc. (ARD) and the Ministry of Agriculture. Recently a meeting was held with a officials from the Ministry Agriculture and ARD Chief Executive Officer Richardson Andrews to discuss the way forward for agriculture and how the ARD can assist. “Our strategy should go beyond restoring agriculture to its pre-Ivan status. We have to look at the long-term viability of the micro farms and the large farms”, Mr. Andrews said. Planning Officer in the Ministry of Agriculture Oliver Benoit presented a draft agricultural strategy and corporate plan for discussion, which outlined the priority areas and objectives. These include: develop farming systems to replant nutmeg, cocoa and bananas; establish fruit tree crops for domestic and foreign markets; develop the livestock sector to meet domestic needs; improve food security; pursue more value added activities; upgrade nurseries, farm roads, irrigation systems and other infrastructure. The meeting which lasted for some three hours focused on the differing needs of small farmers and the larger, more commercial enterprises, as well as the capacity of the Ministry and the Marketing and National Importing Board to effectively serve the farming community. Reprinted from Caribbean Net News caribbeannetnews.com