Pillars Need Water Too: Youth Engagement Needed Towards Sustainable V.I. Agriculture

Editor’s Note: This is the first of a four-part series by DaraMonifah Cooper on the state of agriculture, and its future, in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Remember the pillars, as we brightly paint the outer walls

Without them, the ceiling will surely crumble and fall

As the world traverses the new terrain of global crisis, many are taking a moment to figure out and get back to the basics of their existence. The “great interruption,” as it is coined by some in the community, provides an opportunity for people to consider what really matters, both to themselves as well as their families, friends, communities, and occupations.

No matter the location on Earth, the socio-economic status, political or philosophical belief, there’s one thing we all must do, and that is eat.

With a growing concern for food security on every corner of the Earth, locations that don’t have a strong handle on their agricultural production are at the highest risk of economic and social instability. In the Virgin Islands, two of the remaining agriculture fairs have been postponed due to concerns with the recent spike in numbers of COVID-19 infections. Thankfully, there are people that focus on providing solutions to these challenges for a living, and they, too, have been rethinking their strategies.

Getting “back to the basics” is the common phrase heard throughout the community. The basics or pillars of sustainable agriculture are quality of life, stewardship, and profitability. In 2017, the University of the Virgin Islands School of Agriculture Cooperative Extension Service’s Dr. Louis E. Petersen Jr. considered yet another vital pillar, which he presented in person at the annual Southern Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education coordinators meeting.