St. Croix Farmers Decry Government Neglect of V.I. Agriculture Industry

Yvette and Dale Brown criticize the slow pace of development and lack of government support in the local agriculture sector during a recent committee testimony

Two well-known local farmers from the island of St. Croix have chastised the V.I. Department of Agriculture for the perceived slow pace of development of the agriculture industry. Yvette and Dale Brown shared those pointed sentiments as they testified before the Committee on Budget, Appropriations, and Finance on Tuesday. They sought the committee’s support for an extension of a lease of government-owned property where they currently operate a farm.‌

According to Yvette Brown who runs Sejah Farm on St. Croix as a full-time endeavor, “agriculture in the Virgin Islands has gained a poor reputation for income generation…and lacking significant social and economic contributions.” This, she contended, is “largely due to the local government's failure to fulfill its responsibilities to regulate and oversee the agricultural industry.” Ms. Brown lamented that the sector has been “without significant government support for over 59 years.”