Basseterre, St. Kitts – April 27, 2026
The St. Kitts Consortium of Farmers and Food Producers is raising concerns regarding the operations of SKN NATURES and its growing impact on local agriculture and market access for independent farmers.
Local farmers have long been the backbone of national food security, rural livelihoods, and community resilience. Despite increasing challenges such as climate variability, rising input costs, and market uncertainties, farmers continue to invest significant time, labour, and limited resources to sustain production.
However, the Consortium notes that a government-operated farm, supported by public funding, infrastructure, and institutional resources, is now directly participating in commercial markets that independent farmers rely on for their survival. This situation creates an uneven playing field, placing small and medium-scale producers at a significant disadvantage.
A Call for Balance, Not Opposition
The Consortium emphasizes that it is not opposed to government involvement in agriculture. On the contrary, it strongly supports initiatives that strengthen the sector. However, such involvement must be structured to complement and empower farmers, not compete with them.
Farmers are already reporting:
- Reduced access to markets
- Downward pressure on prices
- Declining profitability
If left unaddressed, this trend risks weakening domestic food production and increasing reliance on imports, contrary to national food security goals.
The Need for Representation and Real Dialogue
Beyond immediate market concerns, this issue highlights the urgent need for farmer representation at the highest levels of decision-making within the agricultural sector.
Policies that directly impact farmers must be informed by those actively engaged in production. Without this, there is a real risk of disconnect between policy decisions and on-the-ground realities.
The Consortium is also calling for structured, ongoing, and meaningful dialogue between the Department of Agriculture and farmer organizations; moving beyond occasional consultation toward a consistent and transparent partnership.
What the Consortium is Calling For
The St. Kitts Consortium of Farmers and Food Producers is urging the Government to:
- Clearly define the role of state-supported farms to ensure they complement, not compete with local farmers
- Establish fair and transparent market guidelines
- Ensure farmer representation at key decision-making levels
- Create a formal and continuous framework for dialogue with farmer organizations
- Strengthen support systems for local agricultural enterprises, including access to markets, financing, and technical support
A Commitment to Collaboration
The Consortium stresses that its intention is not confrontation, but collaboration. It remains committed to working with the Government and all stakeholders to build a resilient, inclusive, and sustainable agricultural sector that benefits all citizens.
Timely dialogue and decisive action are needed to address these concerns before long-term damage is done to the farming community.
