Paul: Festival could be held at end of may with some changes

After falling victim to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021, the island’s premier agriculture festival is to make a comeback this year, albeit with new dates and some possible changes.

Organiser of the annual Agrofest showcase, Chief Executive Officer of the Barbados Agricultural Society (BAS) James Paul, said he and his team were currently mulling over a end of May date for the weekend festival, which would usually attract hundreds.

While it is not yet clear if this year’s Agrofest would have overseas participation like it has in the past, Paul told Barbados TODAY a number of sponsors were onboard and have already expressed their excitement about the festival.

“Yes, we are looking to have [Agrofest] and we are targeting the end of May – the 28 and 29 of May are the dates we are looking at,” said Paul.

“Most of our sponsors have indicated that they are already onboard. The thing is that what you are hearing is that the country needs to return to some type of normalcy, so I think that with the return to some type of normalcy [and] the fact that we have gone to normal operating hours, I think that in itself will make a difference,” he said.

However, he stressed that while plans are still being discussed, he was keeping a close watch on developments related to the COVID-19 pandemic, and that the showcase would be tailored accordingly with all safety measures in place.

“It all depends on the state of the COVID, but we are hoping that we would revert to what is normal. That depends on the state of the pandemic and the extent to which we have been able to control the virus among the population. It will depend on those things, but in any case, we will have something. So yes, there will be an Agrofest,” said Paul.

“The only thing as I said is that the form it will take and even if it is the original form, we are planning to make a few changes consistent with trying to be safe and trying to protect people,” he explained.

The agriculture festival is usually held at Queen’s Park in The City over the last weekend in February each year, attracting school children on the Friday and open to the rest of the population, the Saturday and Sunday.

With more than 200 exhibitors annually, the festival provides patrons with an array of products and services including food, arts and craft, banking options and consultant services, animals and plants, and a variety of new product offerings, from which to sample and purchase.

Last year, when it would have been its 17th iteration, the agriculture festival was shelved after the island started to see an increase in the number of COVID-19 positive cases, which eventually led to a two-week lockdown starting February 3, 2021.

In 2020, Agrofest was held under the theme We Gatherin’ We Fruit, which was in line with the government initiative We Gatherin – a year-long project that was geared towards rebuilding community spirit with the involvement of the diaspora. Some of the We Gatherin celebrations were brought online due to the pandemic, which started to affect the island in mid-March.

Paul told Barbados TODAY there was no theme for this year’s Agrofest just yet, but said the initial thinking was that it would focus heavily on health and wellness.

Pointing out that people seemed to be taking more responsibility for their health and safety, Paul said “The whole question of biosecurity, health and wellness will have special significance in any Agrofest that will be coming this year.”

He said once the dates have been confirmed there will be an official launch. marlonmadden@barbadostoday.bb