Vincentian farmers have been urged to grow more produce that is consumed locally in order to supply the market at home.

That suggestion came from Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Saboto Caesar.

The Minister said in order for people to eat more of what is produced, farmers need to grow more of what people eat.

"And we also have to have a balance in what we would produce; because if we only produce, if sixty percent (60%) of our production moves to ginger, how much ginger do you really consume? What is the volume of ginger do you consume on a daily basis? That means that you are stuffing a supply chain for export, and you are not really focusing. So we want more persons to grow also as farmers, a lot more of the things that we consume locally."

The Agriculture Minister said the local market is entering a new phase with the expansion in the Tourism Industry.

"You now have Sandals needing more food. You now have the expansion of the local establishments needing more food. You have the have the Yachts, the increase in the stay over needing more food and I am also happy to know that there are many persons now in the different villages and communities who have studied tourism and will be working to connect tourism with rural life, tourism with the food sector, so that we can have that important link so that farmers can produce more for the market."

SOURCE: National Broadcasting Corporation (NBC Radio)