The Government of Saint Lucia has launched the Food Import Substitution Programme with financial and technical assistance from the Republic of China (Taiwan).

The programme will see an improvement in the production of bell peppers, cabbages, lettuce, tomatoes, pineapples, watermelons and cantaloupes.

“We are one step closer to securing our food production and reducing our food import bill in Saint Lucia,” Prime Minister Hon. Allen Chastanet stated. “This programme limits the import of seven key fruits and vegetables while providing incentives and technical support to our local farmers to improve the quality and quantity of the identified crops.”

The Department of Agriculture endeavors to lessen foreign spending and provide farmers an opportunity to earn a portion of what is being spent on imports.