Part 4 – How agriculture can boost tourism

Imagine a scenario where after the hurricane, the public could have still had direct access to fresh vegetables, fruits and fish instead of depending on imported canned goods and expired products. If there is to be about talk about rebuilding St. Maarten post-Irma, integrating food security as a means of survival after any disaster, should be the main topic in such a discussion. It is technically possible to set up indoor farming systems on the island. Even well-built houses can be equipped with indoor agriculture systems to grow food. With land available for agriculture limited on the island, creative and innovative systems should be considered and implemented in a post-hurricane re-development phase. Existing farmers should be encouraged to pool their resources and work together on land government can allot for agricultural development. Better yet, these farmers can be stimulated with government support and subsidies to use their agricultural knowledge to help design, build and promote indoor agriculture. Together with government, these farmers can set up an infrastructure to supply these home-grown produce to supermarkets, restaurants and hotels. Government assistance will be necessary because it is a fact that small-scale agriculture is expensive, but it is also the most productive form of agriculture that can exist on a small tourism-based island like St. Maarten. This form of agriculture can have a positive effect on tourism with freshly grown produce coming immediately from the agricultural stations direct to the tables of tourists at hotels and restaurants. In part 5 we will discuss how government's plans should include agriculture.

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