Highlights Research BP 6

Trade Liberalization. Agricultural diversification faces several challenges not least of which is the effect of trade CAES: 25th West Indies Agricultural Economics Conference, Suriname, August 2004 Agricultural Diversification in St.Kitts — Opportunities and Challenges 26 liberalization on the open market that exists in St. Kitts. The importation of relatively cheap agricultural products from either highly subsidized producers or low cost producing countries makes it extremely difficult for farmers to compete on the domestic and export markets. This is particularly so for livestock products including poultry, mutton, pork and beef. As a result there is an oversupply of local beef despite significant levels of importation and a failed broiler industry although large volumes of poultry meat are imported. Import Preferences.



 There also appears to be a preference by importers and consumers for imported produce and this is particularly so for livestock products. Apparently importers enjoy a higher markup on imported produce compared with when purchased locally and consumers generally pay a lower price. There is also a preference in the hospitality sector for imported produce and penetration of some markets is extremely challenging. Water. Limited access to water for supplemental irrigation is a major limiting factor to increasing agricultural diversification on St. Kitts.


 There are no surface catchments due primarily to the sandy nature of the soil and the water harvested is mainly used for domestic, tourism and industrial activities. As a result agricultural production is mainly rainfed and the period of harvest is generally restricted to the first half of the year.
https://ageconsearch.umn.edu/record/265609/files/wiae-2004-08.pdf

• St. Kitts and Nevis is located in the Caribbean Sea, about one-third of the way from Puerto Rico to Trinidad and Tobago. It covers an area of 269 square kilometers (104 square miles).
• St Kitts is larger than Nevis and is roughly oval shaped except for a narrow, long peninsula to the southeast.
• Nevis is surrounded by coral reefs and is almost a single mountain with a height of 3,232 feet.
• Charlestown is the largest town in Nevis. Charlestown is the capital of the island of Nevis, in the Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis, Leeward Islands, West Indies. Charlestown is situated on the leeward side of the island of Nevis, near the southern end of Pinneys Beach.
• St. Kitts and Nevis was once known as the Gibraltar of the West Indies. Its volcanic vantage point offering lines of sight to nearby Nevis, St. Eustatius, and Saba.
• The full name of St Kitts and Nevis is Federation of Saint Christopher and Nevis
• The average life expectancy of its population is 68 years for men and 71 years for women.
• Caribbean Sea at 0 meters is the lowest point in the region.
• Mount Liamuiga, at 1,156 meters, is the highest point in the region. Mount Liamuiga gets its name from the original name of the island of St. Kitts. It means “fertile island.”
• Both the islands are volcanic with a warm, wet climate and sandy beaches.
• People on St Kitts are called Kittitians and on Nevis they are called Nevisians.
• When Christopher Columbus discovered the island, he named it after his patron saint, St. Christopher. Later it was shortened to St. Kitts, his nickname. It was considered the mother colony of the West Indies.
• St. Kitts and Nevis has only 2 airports (Nevis airport and St. Kitts airport).

• https://factsking.com/countries/saint-kitts-and-nevis/