Dear Editor,

I firmly believe that agriculture could be Jamaica's gold mine, because the country's food import bill has skyrocketed to almost US$1 billion a year.

Most of the food imported can be easily produced in Jamaica. Against this background, I would like to see members of the Rastafarian community get together and form some type of co-operative or organisation and get involved in the country's agriculture in a meaningful way.

This, I think, would go a long way in providing the country with the food security that it needs, and at the same time recognise this group's talent and contribution to society while making an honest living.

Agriculture takes a lot of discipline and this group, throughout the years, has demonstrated that kind of discipline. Idle government-owned lands should be made available by way of lease to these entrepreneur-minded individuals or groups. This sector is so broad that it includes traditional crops such as fruits and vegetable, livestock, dairy, poultry, bee, and horticulture. It provides unlimited career opportunities.

There are so many areas to choose from and this would be decided by the various stakeholders -- the Ministry of Agriculture, various agricultural and farmers' groups, and the hotel industry.

Noel Mitchell

Westchester, New York

nlmworld@yahoo.com

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