JAS renews call for levy on imports
WESTERN BUREAU — The Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS) has renewed its call for the Government to impose a one per cent levy on some imported agricultural products, to finance the development of the sector.
The levy would apply to fruits and vegetables and would bring in at least $200 million annually.
Speaking at the 48th annual staging of the Hague Agricultural and Livestock Show in Trelawny on Wednesday, JAS first vice-president, Dr Trevor Dewdney said the funds derived from the levy could be used to develop and market local agricultural produce.
“With this fund we will be able to put in place the sort of marketing structures so that when you (farmers) produce on the farm you are guaranteed a market,” Dewdney said.
The JAS has been pushing for this levy for years and the JAS vice-president later told the Observer that they are anxiously awaiting its implementation. He added that a board of government officials and representatives of the various bodies that are involved in agriculture would be put in place to scrutinise projects submitted for development.
Dewdney argued that the JAS has recognised that the Government is unable to provide the funding that is required for the proper development of agriculture, hence the need to find creative ways of raising funds.
“Because of this we are saying, in the interest of the country, we need to make this relatively small investment because the spins will create the wealth that is needed, especially in several rural communities,” he said.
Meanwhile, junior agriculture minister Errol Ennis told the thousands of persons attending the annual agriculture show that the Government has started an assessment of the sector in an effort to boost production and to make agriculture the centerpiece of the country’s economic and social development.
“Without agriculture, the future of this country is not bright; we have to put back our land, our people and our technology into maximum production for greater productivity and for rural development,” the minister said.
Ennis said a committee of senior ministry officials and key stakeholders in the agricultural sector has already been meeting to formulate new strategies.
The minister also used the opportunity to announce several projects that he said, would be undertaken by Government in the near future.
These include:
* the training of 200 persons in agricultural practices at various levels;
* the resuscitation of 1,500 acres of cocoa at a cost of $30 million; and
* the planting of 500 acres of sea island cotton.