The tremendous focus now being placed on agriculture is good for the country because increased agricultural production can cut the import bill and prices, feed the people and strengthen our economic position. Minister of Agriculture Christopher Tufton set the pace for discussion in his presentation in the recent 2008-2009 budget debate. The theme of his speech was food security. He outlined proposals to revolutionise agricultural production to meet local demand.

He noted that the decline of agricultural production in 2007 constituted only 73.3 per cent of the 1996 level. During the 20-year period, production has remained basically flat. Production last year was the same as it was the year before Hurricane Gilbert in 1988. The decline was due largely to the lack of research and development and support for farmers. In the last few years the world has been witnessing a worrying trend of rapidly increasing commodity prices. These frightening increases have been occasioned by production shortfalls, a serious reduction in stock levels of many commodities, an increase in fuel costs, the rising demand in China, and the rapid conversion of agricultural produce into feedstock for biofuels.
The proposal put forward by Tufton to have a comprehensive farmers' registration programme makes sense. This is of fundamental importance to plan for the proper development of the agricultural sector. The development of a comprehensive land inventory showing all parcels of land owned by the state is necessary to ensure that farmers are growing the right crops in the right places and using the right methods of farming. This should also be applicable to privately owned land. For many years this column and many Jamaicans and visitors to the country have been astonished by the large acreage of idle land across the country owned by the state or privately. This situation cannot be allowed to continue. More land must be put into production.

Tufton scored a major point when he said that good farm roads are critical to sustainable agricultural production. Farm roads have been neglected over the years from a combination of lack of maintenance and uncertainty about who has responsibility for them. Up to last week I heard bitter complaints on radio from two farmers that they cannot get their produce to the market because vehicles are unable to traverse the farm roads. But improvements to these roads are expected, as the minister pointed out that a comprehensive programme of farm road rehabilitation is to be carried out annually. A total of $200 million has been allocated to the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) to develop this programme. However, the amount is only a drop in the bucket, considering the condition of farm roads across the country. Still, it is a start. The money has to be used wisely.

Having worked for a year with the Information Division of the Jamaica Agricultural Society, I am quite aware of the critical role the Agricultural Extension Service once played in agricultural production. However, over the past 20 years the number of officers in the Extension Service has decreased and the services have run down. It was good to hear that the number of extension officers will be doubled so as to provide more technical support for farmers. The minister announced many other steps to increase production, including institutionalised strengthening of farmers' organisations and establishing agricultural clusters.

One of the most important initiatives of the government is the development of the cassava industry to address the country's food security. I believe that most Jamaicans know that cassava can be used to make many by-products, including bammy, starch, flour, chips, cereal, pancakes and many other products. There are two types of cassava - bitter and sweet. The bitter variety must be processed before it can be used, while the sweet variety may be cooked like yam or sweet potato. It is one of my favourite foods. The industry can be developed to the extent that it will be possible to reduce the importation of rice and flour whose prices are rising rapidly. Rice can be produced in commercial quantities locally. The country produced a lot of rice many years ago, and I do not see why it cannot do so again.

Tufton's suggestion that we expand food production in our backyard gardens is worthwhile. I cultivate yam, sweet potato, pumpkin, pepper, banana, lime, soursop, ackee, cho cho and sugar cane in the backyard of my townhouse in Stony Hill. Now I will put in cassava. I have reaped enough produce to give some to friends. There are many measures to improve agriculture. It is now for the people to take up the challenge.

Trousers in Denim

Cream of the 'Crop'

Cheeky's World