While I am not in a position to respond to all 10 points blamed for the lack of performance of agriculture in Jamaica, some additional points can be gleaned from my personal experiences.

I read the Observer on a daily basis and check for updates several times per day. I therefore see that agriculture has been prominent in the news for several weeks, getting notice from the mayor of Montego Bay and even more so the portfolio minister, Derrick Kellier, has been at the forefront of much coverage. Some time before, even the United States ambassador to Jamaica got into the action, although he never mentioned bananas — a topic I brought to the attention of President Bill Clinton and, more recently, President Barack Obama.

The ‘Anancy’ mentality, the crab in the barrel mentality, nihilism, and crass criminality compete for pre-eminence in Jamaican agriculture as well as culture. Years ago, after the death of our father, my brother and I eliminated the non-performing coffee and refurbished the banana field. My friends and I observed hundreds of bunches of bananas. We received not one red cent for our outlay. Many reaped where they had not sown.

I planted or replanted breadfruit, bananas, plantains, and registered with the Rural Agricultural Development Auhtority in Montego Bay. The office refused to give my credentials of membership to my nephew who represented me. The following year I came to Jamaica, visited the RADA office, and I was told that my credentials were in Kingston.

In July of this year, I again made my annual visit to my homeland. I planted red peas, plantain, bananas, yams, pumpkins, cho cho, peanuts, sunflowers, cucumbers and, above all, genuine Scotch bonnet peppers. I grow Scotch bonnett peppers in my backyard in Maryland, so I took seeds home, started the plants in a miniature greenhouse and planted them. All the stuff I planted were growing nicely but many goats intruded and were allowed to destroy most of what I had planted.

I immediately invested tens of thousands of dollars in fencing material and labor and began erecting a “diamond” fence to protect my crops and the integrity of the property. Before the poles could set in the concrete, during the night unknown people tore them down.

The fence was also to prevent or reduce the danger to roaming/wandering children from a large concrete water tank that was refurbished and is now full and capable of watering what I had planted.The tank is now being covered.

The matter was reported to the local police. The fencing will not prevent thieves from stealing the crops, but it should minimize the theft. At some time, I will renew my efforts to secure the property and plant, as my venerated father always did.

Because the land has been in the family for over 80 years — I was born and raised there — I return every year to “rest”, write, enjoy the country life, and connect with my ancestors. Believe it or not, when I arrive in Jamaica, the burden of American life falls from my shoulders.

This is what exists in the fight to enlist in agriculture, and I have left out many details of the struggle. I want others to know that the Anancy mentality, “crabism”, nihilism, and crass criminality is alive and well in our Jamaican culture and that steps can be taken to remove these cultural anomalies from Jamaican society. I will keep on the good fight.

How can we achieve food security when these anomalies exist?

Lahemans@aol.com