PRESIDENT of the Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS) Norman Grant has reiterated his call for praedial larceny to be included in the Proceeds of Crime Act.

“We continue to say that this crime must be subject to the Proceeds of Crime Bill. and the state should dispose of their assets and re-invest them in the agricultural sector,” Grant said at the 112th annual general meeting of the JAS held at the Jamaica Conference Centre in downtown Kingston on Thursday.

The Proceeds of Crime Act, which was passed by the Senate in February, authorises the state to deprive criminals of all properties and accumulated wealth that cannot be explained by legitimate activities.

According to Grant, praedial larceny costs the agricultural sector some $4 billion annually, and advocated that where wealth was built up from the proceeds of stolen agriculture produce, the assets should be sold and the returns invested in the sector.

On Thursday the JAS president also urged farmers to become registered with the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) and purchase agriculture receipt books.

The society sells 100-page receipt books for $500 each to RADA-registered farmers for the presentation to the purchasers of their produce.

Grant said that since the receipt book programme was implemented six months ago, the sector has saved in excess of $50 million, adding that members of the Island Special Constabulary Force (ICSF) have been actively implementing the anti-praedial larceny initiative.

He added that while some farmers have commented that the receipt books were too expensive, they were important in the control of praedial larceny.

“Five dollar per sheet is not too expensive to protect your investment. If you think so then we have to talk,” Grant told the farmers at the meeting.

He said the Ministry of Agriculture provided $5 million for the printing of 100,000 receipt books and the Ministry of National security has allocated approximately $250,000 for a public education programme.

“Fifty thousand books have been distributed to all the parishes and farmers have been responding favourably,” said Grant.

“Since we have implemented the programme six months ago we estimate that the sector has saved in excess of $50 million,” he added.

Thursday, Grant also lamented the state of farms roads across the island, saying that their poor condition was seriously affecting production.

“We need some clear indicators as to what the future of farm roads is going to be,” he said.