BAS welcomes first female agriculture minister

Barbados Agricultural Society leaders welcomed Dr Shantal Munro-Knight’s appointment as the island’s first female agriculture minister amid regional food security crises, signalling optimism and pledging industry-wide action to boost food production.

Dr Munro-Knight was inaugurated on Monday to take over from Indar Weir, who held the position since the first Mia Mottley administration in 2018.

Chief executive officer James Paul said farmers expected strong leadership and outcomes under her stewardship.

“I know she has excellent skills, and I am sure that she’s familiar with agricultural things. It is not unfamiliar,” Paul said as he toured Queen’s Park, the site of the annual Agrofest exhibition. “I would say that we expect great things from her. We have to be positive and optimistic about the future.”

He stressed that responsibility for progress also rested with industry figures.

“Whatever it is, at the same time, we within the sector will be doing what is necessary in order to ensure that we get growth and that objectives in terms of increasing agricultural production are achieved.”

BAS President Henderson Williams also welcomed the appointment, noting that Dr Munro-Knight was not new to the agricultural landscape and had already worked closely with the ministry through her previous role.

“Dr Munro-Knight is no new face to agriculture,” said Williams. “As you’re aware, she was the CEO of the cannabis organisation [Barbados Medicinal Cannabis Licensing Authority], so she has been working with the Ministry of Agriculture before… We have a long relationship and we will continue to nurture that relationship.”

Agriculture had taken on added urgency, particularly given developments across the region, and pointed to renewed national focus on food security, he said.

“Agriculture has taken full focus, particularly what is happening regionally, and I do believe just yesterday the prime minister emphasised the importance of food security.”

He also noted a surge in household food production during the COVID-19 pandemic and said the BAS intended to re-engage those growers.

“Coming out of Agrofest this year, we’re going to ask all of those persons who started that process to revert,” Williams said. “We’re going to do things in terms of packaging things, getting people more involved.”

He said practical measures, including simplified guidance and starter-kit support, would be explored to lower the barrier to re-entry.

Agrofest, the landmark agricultural exhibition, opens a week from Friday.