THE EDITOR, Sir:
ONCE AGAIN the Minister of Agriculture, the Hon Roger Clarke is forecasting a take-off in agriculture in 2004. We have heard that kind of prognostication before, but experience has shown that apart from improvements in some sectors, the agricultural industry in Jamaica has been at best anaemic over the past 10 years.
The "Eat Jamaican" campaign being spearheaded by the Ministry may be a step in the right direction, but seems unrealistic against a globalised market environment where imported goods can be had at a cheaper cost than locally produced goods. The simple truth is that the local cost inputs in agriculture are unbearable and unsustainable and there is no indication that this situation will change any time soon.
If Mr. Clarke is interested in getting agriculture moving in 2004 this high cost in agricultural production must be addressed. He has brought a great deal of energy to his portfolio but one gets the distinct impression that the business of agriculture in Jamaica is on auto pilot, that there is absent any real sense of vision of what is required to take advantage of our great agricultural potential.
I wish Mr. Clarke well in his hopes for agriculture in 2004, but I admit that my hope for agriculture has been severely diminished over the years by the lacklustre performance of this most important sector to the Jamaican economy.
I am etc.,
Rev. RALSTON
NEMBHARD
stead6655@aol.com
Via Go-Jamaica
