Claude Wilson, Freelance WriterWESTERN BUREAU:
THE PEOPLE'S National Party (PNP) is in Government for an unprecedented fourth term. By a reduced margin, the majority of voters considered the incumbent party as best suited to run the country for the next five years.
Polling a few farmers after the election, Farmers Weekly gleaned that while some support the return of the PNP Government, they and other farmers, however, are giving the last administration a very poor grade for their handling of the agricultural sector. One agriculturalist and staunch supporter of the PNP went as far as scoring the last administration two out of 10 for its handling of the sector. Many are pointing to dramatic decline in many sub-sectors areas such as beef and dairy cattle production, banana and sugar and in area of non-traditional crop production that occur within the last 10 years. For its part, the PNP, over the last few years, has considered its role as a facilitator of the agricultural sector, leaving its development in the hands of those with financial and other vested stakes in the sector.
Defending its past record in agriculture, the party manifesto declares that "the PNP has devoted much time and effort to the continued development of the sector," noting that "agriculture is vital for rural development and holds the key to employment stability and new business creation. In the next term, we plan to spearhead a major thrust to increase production and employment through an agricultural revolution spurred by..." [a number of objectives pursued under the theme 'Agriculture: expansion and new thinking].
Whether as a facilitator or through more direct involvement, the agricultural sector will henceforth tether this new administration to its election promise and to do more to stimulate increase production and employment through their proposed agricultural revolution. According to the government manifesto, the agricultural revolution will be spurred by greater application of science and technology to agriculture, through the rationalisation of agricultural research institutions, and major expansion of non-traditional agriculture for export. The new administration will be "facilitating" a major thrust in organic farming to tap into multi-billion dollar export market and will spur the development of natural health products (nutraceuticals). They are casting their net in the area of the commercial production and marketing of marine and fresh water shrimp and also over the new development in fresh water Tilapia fish production at Longville Farm in Clarendon.
There are proposals to increase investment in areas such as extracted essential oils, dehydrated fruits, flavours and essences, soup mixes, and the expansion of fruit tree crop programme to meet the market for tropical fruits and drinks. The government, according to the manifesto, is looking towards overhauling the commodity boards and to modernise the [agriculture] market system. New irrigation system is being promised and discussions, the manifesto says, are well advanced with private sector interests to develop a vibrant industry including research, production and marketing.
The PNP government is once again talking about "the involvement of youth in agriculture", as a longstanding objective to be pursued in this administration. For, in a country where the average age of the farmers is above 60 years, more young people, who are connect to modern technology, are required to drive any agricultural revolution. In a situation where most present farmers are far from being financially secured, and with continuous talks of decline in the agricultural sector, how will government attract young people to a vocation that appears to offer little hope of economic stability?
Still, the PNP manifesto sought to bring hope of increase stability through improved technology and greater production efficiency especially within the sub-sector. "The government will intensify the application of advanced technology in the sugar industry. We will complete work that has already been started with the dairy farmers to acquire a new milk processing facility and boost the beef cattle industry".
The manifesto is silent on several key areas and issues that are in dire need of the facilitating hands of the Government. No mention is made of the $5 billion pig industry that is now poised for redevelopment, but through private initiatives.
See the response of the Jamaica Labour Party next week.
