Charles wants to change agri-industry ‘straw hat and boots’ image
Published:Sunday | April 24, 2022 | 12:06 AM
Minister of Agriculture & Fisheries Pearnel Charles Jr envisages a new image for the farming sector that is represented by individuals using robotic systems and other advanced technology instead of what he describes as the prevailing ‘man in a straw hat and boots labouring in the fields’.
It is a wish-list on which he wants to act promptly in order to attract more persons to the field and to buttress the sector’s economic contribution.
His plan to redevelop the industry, which in 2020 contributed 8.68 per cent to gross domestic product, the widest measure of economic activity, involves what the minister says are more serious discussions with banking institutions around affordable financing for farmers and greater investment in technology.
To retain and attract more Jamaicans to the sector, Charles wants to hold discussions around farming insurance, pension for farmers, and reinstituting agricultural studies as early as the primary or infant school level.
Agricultural studies are currently taught in secondary schools through the Jamaica 4H Clubs but is limited to individuals that are members of the movement. To expand the programme schoolwide, Charles would have to engage with Minister of Education Fayval Williams. Jamaica 4H also trains young people between the ages of five and 25 years in home economic skills.
“The time is now for agriculture to become the paramount priority, the time is now for us to pull our young people in, educate them not just in terms of qualification – the bachelor’s and master’s degree. We are talking about young people appreciating and understanding,” Charles said, while addressing the Agro-Investment Corporation’s Agribusiness Investment Forum on Thursday.
“There was a time when every child that went to primary school in Jamaica had to plant a tree. I want us to get back there where our boys and girls understand at an early age, when they get out of high school and become the potential agroprenuers, or out of university and become an agro-investor,” he said.
As it relates to crop and livelihood insurance, three insurers, the most recent of which is GK General Insurance through GK Weather Protect, offer coverage targeted at Jamaica’s 220,000 farmers and 26,000 fishers. The minister wants more options for insurance as well as pension savings and financing for projects.
State-operated marketing agency Jampro has been directed to take the lead on exploring financing opportunities. The agriculture ministry, with the help of Agro-Investment Corporation, AIC, is still working through other initiatives, some of which he may expound on during his sectoral presentation in Parliament scheduled for May 10.
Jampro President Diane Edwards said the agency has already had one closed-door meeting with the banking sector to speak frankly about the issues surrounding access to credit.
“There is something wrong with the concept of you having it easier to go to the bank to get a loan for a Benz than a tractor, both depreciating assets, but in different categories. We have to change how we are seeing this, and we have to start those conversations with the financial institutions,” Charles said.
AIC has 5,300 acres of land under management, including eight agro parks and nine agricultural production zones. Some 500 farmers work the lands.
“We must put the lands that we have to good use, particularly now when everybody is talking about food security. We are moving, but we have a lot more to do. I want to ensure that every acre under management is maximised in use, unlocking the potential,” said Charles.
“All of that must be done on the basis of teaching our youngsters how to do what they can already see as their future, farming in Jamaica; but not just farming, where you have straw hat and boots. There’s nothing wrong with that, but we want to see how being innovators, creators bringing the computerised technology can change the industry,” he said.