Basseterre, St. Kitts, May 19, 2016 (SKNIS): The niche market of growing flowers is near to non-existent in St. Kitts and Nevis and locals were encouraged by the Director of Agriculture, Melvin James, to tap into it on this week’s edition (May 18) of the radio- television talk show, Working for You.
Mr. James said that there are persons who grow flowers here but persons regularly import flowers for floral arrangements.
“Persons who arrange flowers have to go up the airport almost every day,” he said. “If there is an occasion where flowers are needed, they are imported. We hardly produce flowers. There are many things in agriculture that can be profitable and growing flowers is one of them.”
He said that in St. Kitts persons tend to do a little of everything meaning that “there are certain key things we should really select and run with.” Mr. James believes that the country would be able to grow from flowers.
“One of the things about flowers is that they are very light weight and therefore they are costly,” he said, noting that persons seek “light weight high value things, both in manufacturing and in agriculture because you have to consider the cost factors.
The Director outlined some key areas that would make the growing of flowers a lucrative industry.
“Even apart from exports, we have a relatively good industry here,” he said. “You can distribute roses on a daily basis to the ones you love and the ones you care for. There are a lot of workshops and seminars where they need decorations. Providing flowers to the hotels can play an integral role in building the hospitality industry as they uplift the atmosphere. There, flowers can be used on a daily basis.
Other areas he mentioned were providing flowers for funerals and uplifting offices.
