Dear Editor,

Sometimes we get so busy we forget to say thank you, so let me take time out from my planting schedule to say thanks to the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries for instituting the Financial Access for Responsible Members (FARM) Programme. I am truly grateful and appreciative of the special attention the ministry has given us farmers.

This past year was indeed a challenging one and success would not have been possible without its involvement. The effect the programme had on me through this initiative was overwhelming.

The introduction of the FARM Programme is one of the best aids the ministry could have implemented for us farmers. The programme is a great success, and hats off to everyone from the Ministry and RADA St Mary for making it possible. I will admit there were hiccups along the way, but nothing that water, along with dedication, preservation and passion from both parties, could not fix.

FARM armed us with relevant information on loans, ongoing training, and the relevant contracts to ensure that we were on a sound financial footing and could maybe at the end of our toil in the field buy a Benz as Chief Technical Director Dr Marc Panton so rightly said in one of our meetings.

Through this programme, we got an opportunity to meet one on one with importers, buyers, banks and other individuals in order to foster long-term relationships, and this by itself is a major accomplishment.

Despite my praises, though, I would like to encourage your team to conduct more training sessions, especially land preparation at least two to four months before planting season, and ensure that all loans are secured and the requisite paper work completed up to two months before scheduled planting season.

Once again, I say thank you to the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries for its assistance and for providing us with new information on available opportunities and the way forward in agriculture as we answer the call to grow what we eat, eat what we grow.

Maline Stephen

St Mary