Sweet news - Entity representing cane farmers cleans up its act

Mark Titus, Gleaner Writer

Western Bureau:

Almost three years after a damning report from the auditor general on the operations of the All-Island Jamaica Cane Farmers Association (AIJCFA), the entity's Chairman Allan Rickards says the group now has a clean bill of health and is restructured for greater efficiency.

"We have focused on the removal of debt that the association built up over the past two decades and we are now debt free ... the association is debt free," said Rickards, in a recent interview with The Sunday Gleaner.

"The accounting system we now have in place would be the envy of any government agency, and all that is implemented at the national level will be duplicated at the parish level," continued Rickards.

"Our farmers must see sugar cane production as a business."

The AIJCFA, which represents the more than 8,000 registered cane farmers in Jamaica, was in the red by more than $100 million, which the association head said was mainly "unpaid statutory deductions and the associated penalties".

Several Other Breaches

In its report, which spoke to the financial bind of the AIJCFA, the Auditor General's Department identified several other breaches, including unauthorised purchases and unmerited payments to staff.

The audit, which was ordered after concerns about the financial viability of the AIJCFA were raised in a European Union-backed study done by Jamaican firm CA Goodridge & Associates.

The study also led to the entity's ability to provide the required support to its members being questioned.

Consequently, the Auditor General's Department recommended a raft of changes.

According to Rickards, the financial statements presented to members at the association's annual general meeting last week was the "cleanest audited report in a long time".

PLANNED FROM 2006

He said the restructuring of the AIJCFA was planned from 2006 and not because of the audit.

"The restructuring project was signed off in 2006 but it only got off the ground two and a half years ago," said Rickards.

"The farmers' group has revamped its staff complement, replacing those with mere experience with greater technical expertise.

"We now have a cadre of very qualified field officers who understand that the growing of cane is not the only service they must provide ... they must be able to guide the farmers into a more businesslike approach," the AIJCFA boss explained. "While the previous employees were qualified through experience, these are qualified through experience and education."

Under the current arrangement, farmers will be expected to provide the association with a business plan, and will be further required to use this as a guideline to maximise the returns on their effort.

"The field officers will be expected to walk the farmers into the realm of business," said Rickards.

"Our farmers must learn to develop a businesslike approach in what actually is a business ... and (field officers) should advise the cane farmer when his effort will not result in a viable outcome, so he should seek another occupation."

The Incorporation and Cess Act of 1941 requires the association to make periodic reports to the agriculture minister on how its resources are being utilised.

Rickards said that the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries gave full support for the restructure exercise, which will also see the offices of the AIJCFA being relocated to Innswood Estate in St Catherine.