(a) The Department of Agriculture in an effort to promote sustainable agriculture shall collaborate with the Department of Education and the Board of Education to incorporate agricultural science courses in the curriculum at all grade levels, including kindergarten, by:(1) providing agriculture programs, through the school system;(2) providing significant opportunities of vocational education in agriculture; and(3) developing programs to counsel school dropouts and rehabilitation programs for juvenile delinquents, first-time criminal offenders, and those being released from the prison system by providing alternative programs, such as agricultural training camps and employment opportunities in the agricultural industry.
(1) providing agriculture programs, through the school system;
(2) providing significant opportunities of vocational education in agriculture; and
(3) developing programs to counsel school dropouts and rehabilitation programs for juvenile delinquents, first-time criminal offenders, and those being released from the prison system by providing alternative programs, such as agricultural training camps and employment opportunities in the agricultural industry.
(b) The Commissioner shall collaborate with the Department of Justice to create sustainable prison farms as a means of providing supplemental food to the prison and as an alternative means of rehabilitation in the prison system for the development of prisoners who are released into society.
(c) The Commissioner, in conjunction with the University of the Virgin Islands and the Department of Education, shall establish programs that further assists in the development of future agriculturists who will provide for the continued sustainable development of an agriculture industry, and provide adequate training in agricultural sciences to grant agriculturists certification.
(d) (1) The Virgin Islands Department of Agriculture and the Department of Tourism shall host an agricultural conference known as the V.I. Agricultural Caribbean Conference annually and alternately in the District of St. Croix, and the District of St. Thomas and St. John which addresses topics that benefit agriculture, including:(A) Agri-tourism;(B) Imports and exports in the territory;(C) Empowerment of local farmers through innovation;(D) Pathways and interventions for agriculture;(E) The latest agricultural information for local farmers;(F) Disease and Pest Management;(G) Financial Reporting for Farmers; and(H) Such other topics the Department of Agriculture considers beneficial to agriculture and farmers in the territory.(2) The Department shall:(A) Serve as the lead agency in hosting the V.I. Agricultural Caribbean Conference; including finding sponsors, preparing the necessary documents, and disseminating information in a timely manner to the Department of Tourism;(B) Develop a minimum of three days of education and instruction for the Conference; and(C) Make arrangement for experts in the field of agriculture to speak at the V.I. Agricultural Caribbean Conference.(3) The Department of Tourism shall:(A) Allocate $50,000 of its budget towards the V.I. Agricultural Caribbean Conference by October 1 of each year;(B) Serve as the lead agency in promoting and marketing the event throughout the Caribbean, the United States Mainland, and other parts of the world;(C) Speak at the Conference on its vision and the benefits of agri-tourism in the Virgin Islands at the Conference; and(D) Collaborate with the private sector to hold a series of events and activities during the Conference to present opportunities for visitors to experience the Virgin Islands’ culture, natural and historic places, entertainment, shopping, and other features.(4) The Department of Agriculture shall collaborate with the University of the Virgin Islands to gain access to the latest research, recommendations, and other information considered necessary to assist in promoting the conference.(5) The Bureau of Economic Research within the Office of Management [and Budget] shall conduct an economic impact analysis on each conference.(A) The analysis must, at a minimum, include lodging, transportation, and tax revenues, sales, and income to the Territory resulting from each conference. The Department of Tourism and the Department of Agriculture shall use this analysis to assist in making decisions to improve future conferences.(B) The Bureau of Economic Research shall complete the economic impact analysis mandated in this paragraph not later than 90 days after each conference and shall submit a copy of the analysis to the Legislature’s Committee on Finance, the Commissioner of the Department of Agriculture, and the Commissioner of the Department of Tourism.
(1) The Virgin Islands Department of Agriculture and the Department of Tourism shall host an agricultural conference known as the V.I. Agricultural Caribbean Conference annually and alternately in the District of St. Croix, and the District of St. Thomas and St. John which addresses topics that benefit agriculture, including:(A) Agri-tourism;(B) Imports and exports in the territory;(C) Empowerment of local farmers through innovation;(D) Pathways and interventions for agriculture;(E) The latest agricultural information for local farmers;(F) Disease and Pest Management;(G) Financial Reporting for Farmers; and(H) Such other topics the Department of Agriculture considers beneficial to agriculture and farmers in the territory.
(A) Agri-tourism;
(B) Imports and exports in the territory;
(C) Empowerment of local farmers through innovation;
(D) Pathways and interventions for agriculture;
(E) The latest agricultural information for local farmers;
(F) Disease and Pest Management;
(G) Financial Reporting for Farmers; and
(H) Such other topics the Department of Agriculture considers beneficial to agriculture and farmers in the territory.
(2) The Department shall:(A) Serve as the lead agency in hosting the V.I. Agricultural Caribbean Conference; including finding sponsors, preparing the necessary documents, and disseminating information in a timely manner to the Department of Tourism;(B) Develop a minimum of three days of education and instruction for the Conference; and(C) Make arrangement for experts in the field of agriculture to speak at the V.I. Agricultural Caribbean Conference.
(A) Serve as the lead agency in hosting the V.I. Agricultural Caribbean Conference; including finding sponsors, preparing the necessary documents, and disseminating information in a timely manner to the Department of Tourism;
(B) Develop a minimum of three days of education and instruction for the Conference; and
(C) Make arrangement for experts in the field of agriculture to speak at the V.I. Agricultural Caribbean Conference.
(3) The Department of Tourism shall:(A) Allocate $50,000 of its budget towards the V.I. Agricultural Caribbean Conference by October 1 of each year;(B) Serve as the lead agency in promoting and marketing the event throughout the Caribbean, the United States Mainland, and other parts of the world;(C) Speak at the Conference on its vision and the benefits of agri-tourism in the Virgin Islands at the Conference; and(D) Collaborate with the private sector to hold a series of events and activities during the Conference to present opportunities for visitors to experience the Virgin Islands’ culture, natural and historic places, entertainment, shopping, and other features.
(A) Allocate $50,000 of its budget towards the V.I. Agricultural Caribbean Conference by October 1 of each year;
(B) Serve as the lead agency in promoting and marketing the event throughout the Caribbean, the United States Mainland, and other parts of the world;
(C) Speak at the Conference on its vision and the benefits of agri-tourism in the Virgin Islands at the Conference; and
(D) Collaborate with the private sector to hold a series of events and activities during the Conference to present opportunities for visitors to experience the Virgin Islands’ culture, natural and historic places, entertainment, shopping, and other features.
(4) The Department of Agriculture shall collaborate with the University of the Virgin Islands to gain access to the latest research, recommendations, and other information considered necessary to assist in promoting the conference.
(5) The Bureau of Economic Research within the Office of Management [and Budget] shall conduct an economic impact analysis on each conference.(A) The analysis must, at a minimum, include lodging, transportation, and tax revenues, sales, and income to the Territory resulting from each conference. The Department of Tourism and the Department of Agriculture shall use this analysis to assist in making decisions to improve future conferences.(B) The Bureau of Economic Research shall complete the economic impact analysis mandated in this paragraph not later than 90 days after each conference and shall submit a copy of the analysis to the Legislature’s Committee on Finance, the Commissioner of the Department of Agriculture, and the Commissioner of the Department of Tourism.
(A) The analysis must, at a minimum, include lodging, transportation, and tax revenues, sales, and income to the Territory resulting from each conference. The Department of Tourism and the Department of Agriculture shall use this analysis to assist in making decisions to improve future conferences.
(B) The Bureau of Economic Research shall complete the economic impact analysis mandated in this paragraph not later than 90 days after each conference and shall submit a copy of the analysis to the Legislature’s Committee on Finance, the Commissioner of the Department of Agriculture, and the Commissioner of the Department of Tourism.
(e) The Commissioner shall:(1) Conduct a program of incentives through a cost-sharing program;(2) Develop a program for assisting in the marketing of local agricultural products;(3) Maintain adequate livestock health services;(4) Develop a program, in conjunction with the University of the Virgin Islands Co-operative Extension Service, the Department of Education, and Department of Labor to encourage the processing of local agricultural produce and products;(5) Develop a program to assure a source of supply of forage and other resources needed for the livestock industry; and(6) Develop a program to make water available to farmers during times of drought.
(1) Conduct a program of incentives through a cost-sharing program;
(2) Develop a program for assisting in the marketing of local agricultural products;
(3) Maintain adequate livestock health services;
(4) Develop a program, in conjunction with the University of the Virgin Islands Co-operative Extension Service, the Department of Education, and Department of Labor to encourage the processing of local agricultural produce and products;
(5) Develop a program to assure a source of supply of forage and other resources needed for the livestock industry; and
(6) Develop a program to make water available to farmers during times of drought.