BASSETERRE, St. Kitts (CMC):

St Kitts Prime Minister Dr Denzil Douglas has welcomed Taiwan's commitment to assist this twin-island federation in the establishment and development of a commercial agricultural zone.

"We would be able to have the basic infrastructure of irrigation, seedlings, seeds, fertilisers, and the Government providing the land and identifying our young people who are serious about doing commercial farming," Douglas said on the heels of the announcement by Taiwanese Ambassador Rong-chuan Wu, adding that the plan created the opportunity for these persons to "become small professional farmers and to impact in a very positive way the high prices of food that we are experiencing today".

Pilot project

Ambassador Wu said that, since taking up office two months ago, he had been urged by Douglas to assist in the development of the agricultural area in an effort to deal with the soaring price of food here.

He said there would be a pilot project with a 10-acre farm.

"We will get it ready and then invite young farmers to participate in the agricultural zone development," said Ambassador Wu at a brief ceremony this week to hand over cheques totalling nearly US$400,000 for two sporting projects. "Prime Minister Douglas has said it must be a commercial farm in the agricultural zone with access to water and young potential farmers."

Ambassador Wu said the Taiwanese agricultural mission will provide the basic infrastructure, including irrigation, as well as other assistance.