Making agriculture viable

Delford Morgan, Contributor

There is a clear lack of critical, co-ordinated thought accompanying the political responses to the crises in the food-production vs consumption/export sectors. The same theatrics surrounding the demise of the state of emergency is played out every day in most areas of national life, with little prospect for an early amelioration in the condition of life for the growing ranks of the poor, marginalised and uneducated class. In addition to all this we are being strangled by the spectre of perhaps the highest rate of national un-productivity in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).

Many agree that agriculture and agro-processing can, in the short to medium term, play a lead role in driving gross domestic output and creating jobs. Indeed, the Government, through the Ministry of Agriculture, has eagerly embarked on the quest to make agriculture a major plank of the country's development. There has been the expected realignment of the ministry's key departments and some new leaders brought in to shore up and expand the delivery of service to and from the ministry.

Scratching the surface

Despite a commendable per-formance to date, the minister has only scratched the surface in the quest to make the sector work for Jamaica. It is in this context that one may be tempted to seek out the Opposition's policy outline on agriculture. If one exists, it will hopefully represent the coordinated thinking of several shadow portfolios, particularly agriculture, land and rural development; investment and development; and environment, science and technology. If agriculture is to succeed there are some critical indispensables that must be addressed, otherwise it will remain in the doldrums. Apart from lending vocal support to expand output, very little is said about sustainability and markets.

Successive governments have failed to address the collateral issues of food storage and processing facilities, soil and water management, crop progeny, expansion and diversification as well as reviving animal husbandry for meats and other products. And in case we forget, the equation is incomplete without a well-trained cadre of workers to use available technology to increase productive output. It means that the Ministry of Education must be brought on board to improve and expand access to core agricultural theories and practices among the 13-18 age cohort, eventually upgrading the College of Agriculture, Science and Education (CASE) to an agro-technical institute with university status to provide agro-scientists to sustain and increase the value-added quotient from our raw, primary output.

Last, the issues of land use and titling need to be urgently addressed to enable the sector to retain arable lands for agriculture and to free up the monetary value of farm holdings, allowing farmers to access investment capital via loans. If we get agriculture right we could easily reverse our trade imbalance with CARICOM and become a significant player in the exporting of foods in the wider Americas and beyond. But for this to happen there is need for a comprehensive development plan of action for the agricultural sector.

Delford Morgan is an attorney-at-law. Feedback may be sent to pepe.morgan@yahoo.com or letters@gleanerjm.com.