Paraquita Bay Farmers Receive Water Tanks to
Five Paraquita Bay farmers have received 1,000-gallon water tanks under the OECS Integrated Land Management / Sustainable Land Management programme, a regional partnership aimed at boosting climate-resilient farming in the Virgin Islands. The tanks, fitted with automatic shut-off valves, were received from the OECS in December and officially distributed on Tuesday, 24 March, with the Premier's Office and the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries coordinating the programme, according to a government press release.
Five farmers in Paraquita Bay have been given 1,000-gallon water tanks to strengthen agricultural production and water security across the territory, the Government of the Virgin Islands said in a press release. The tanks were provided under the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Integrated Land Management (ILM) / Sustainable Land Management (SLM) programme.
According to the government, the tanks were received from the OECS in December and were officially distributed on Tuesday, 24 March. Each tank is fitted with an automatic shut-off valve to support more efficient rainwater harvesting and storage. Agricultural Management Officer in the Premier's Office Orville Clarke said the support is part of a wider push to improve water security and sustainability for local farms. "The water tanks are intended to support rainwater harvesting and storage, contributing to improved irrigation systems, increased agricultural production, and enhanced water reserves for livestock," Mr.
Clarke said in the Premier's Office statement. The government named the beneficiaries as Ms. The release says the group represents a diverse cross-section of the Territory's agricultural sector — one livestock farmer, three crop farmers and one apiculture (bee) farmer — reflecting the varied ways the tanks can be used on different types of farms.
Fahie, were unable to attend the official handover. The Department of Agriculture and Fisheries arranged direct delivery of those tanks to the farms with assistance from its Livestock and Animal Control Team, the department confirmed. The Department also said follow-up visits will be made to each recipient farm to verify proper installation and usage as part of programme oversight.
Officials described the donation as tackling ongoing challenges in the agricultural sector related to limited water access and increasing climate variability. Rainwater harvesting is frequently promoted in the Virgin Islands as a low-cost, resilient approach to reduce reliance on mains or trucked water for irrigation and livestock, and to help buffer farms against dry spells.
The government framed the distribution as part of a meaningful regional partnership designed to promote climate-resilient agriculture, improved land and water management practices, and long-term sustainability across OECS member states. The programme was coordinated between the Premier's Office and the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, and the government said similar partnerships and targeted distributions will continue as part of wider plans to bolster local food security and farm productivity.
BVI News previously reported on the donation; the most recent details and beneficiary names come from the Government of the Virgin Islands press release and statement from the Premier's Office and Department of Agriculture and Fisheries.
Primary source: BVI News