Grenada minister emphasizes role of agriculture in sustainable poverty alleviation and rural revitalization in China

On October 31, 2024, the Global Poverty Reduction and Development Forum convened in Beijing, China, under the theme "Jointly Promoting Poverty Reduction and Building Beautiful and Harmonious Villages."

At the forum, Gloria Ann Thomas, Grenada’s Minster of Social and Community Development, Housing and Gender Affairs, shared her insights during an exclusive interview with Guangming Online.

Thomas reflected on her eye-opening experience during a tour of a village in Daxing District, Beijing, organized by the forum, which provided practical exposure to local agricultural practices in China's rural areas. She was impressed by the wide variety of vegetables and crops grown to feed the residents, particularly the range of cucumber varieties available. These cucumbers, with their different tastes and textures, cater to diverse preferences, reducing the need for imported vegetables. In contrast, such variety is not available in Grenada. From this observation, Thomas gained valuable insights into how a diversified agricultural system can reduce dependency on imports and bolster local food security.

Building on these observations, Thomas emphasized that a country's ability to feed itself is a crucial step in alleviating poverty, with agriculture playing a key role in fostering self-reliance and local food consumption. Through this tour, she witnessed firsthand the pivotal role that agriculture plays in China's sustainable poverty alleviation and rural revitalization efforts. As Grenada also heavily depends on agriculture, Thomas hopes to bring these insights back to her home country, using them to enhance agricultural diversity and contribute to sustainable poverty alleviation.