Locals urged to tap into lucrative flower industry

The Barbados Orchids Society celebrated its 80^th anniversary Friday evening under the patronage of Governor General Dame Sandra Mason.

Dame Sandra, who is a lover of orchids, told the audience that she was delighted to be invited to the event and congratulated all of the winners.

Minister of Agriculture and Food Security Indar Weir said that the flower industry is a billion-dollar sector which the ministry has ventured into in the past.

“The business of cultivating flowers and the flower industry in Barbados is striving and gaining recognition beyond our shores,” he said.

“This global flower trade which earned less than US$3 billion in 1950 has significantly developed and by 2003 had earned US110.84 billion.”

Weir said his Ministry is not solely focused on food security and animal husbandry, but it has begun work with orchid farmers to develop the industry. (LG)