Letter of the Day | Farming is noble, rewarding, and critical to sustainable development

THE EDITOR, Sir:

It was very heartening to hear Prime Minister Andrew Holness not only encouraging more Jamaicans to enter commercial farming, but also expressing his personal desire to go into farming, citing it as a noble and rewarding endeavour.

This, on the eve of the 109th Founders Day celebrations of one of the Caribbean’s premiere agricultural training institutions – the College of Agriculture, Science and Education. This is just the kind of energy that a key sector in the growth agenda needs.  

In heeding the call and navigating the landscape to successful farming and wider agricultural pursuits, a few hurdles are to be considered, as, undoubtedly, although food production is critical to human existence, farming has never been widely seen as a top-shelf  profession and many a parent will admit that becoming a farmer is not what they wish to hear their child say on Career Day.

Firstly, engaging the millennials will be critical, which is easier said than done. 

Study after study report that while millennials are the most tech-savvy and educated generation on the planet, they are more risk-averse and less independent than prior generations,  preferring to continue living with their parents well into adulthood,  and demanding more flexibility in work hours in the quest for better family-work balance.

 On the flip side, millennials who go on to take over the family farms are college-educated, are  more environmental and health-conscious, they are expected to focus more on value-added products than acreage, and by virtue of  their unparalleled social media skills as producers and consumers, they will have much to offer in selling agriculture. 

FALL OF SUGAR; RISE OF CANNABIS

Secondly, the fall of sugar and rise of cannabis are happening simultaneously in today’s Jamaica. It’s a mixed message to those interested in farming; one that has to be expertly managed to demonstrate that while  the economics of production is the fundamental principle in successful farming , for Jamaica to be a place to live, work, raise families and do business, it cannot be the same ole same ole. 

Thirdly, utilising arable land for housing solutions is not embraced but is practiced, as both government and private investors seek to provide shelter and profiteer, respectively. This is another mixed message that still needs to be rationalised, especially in the context of a developing nation. 

Farming is indeed noble and rewarding, but more importantly, critical to sustainable development. With the right mix of policy direction and strategic engagement, the attractiveness and rewards of farming can redound to producers and consumers alike. 

‘OLE FARMER’ DR. SOPHIA RAMLAL, JP
irievet@yahoo.com