“Farmer man working hard to feed the nation.” Agriculture and farming is the most ancient of occupations. In fact, according to the book of Genesis, it’s the first command God gave to man. Life and living were created on five pillars. Man must be fruitful, multiply, replenish, subdue the earth and have dominion over the earth. Mankind has put numbers 5, 4 and 3 of these commandments before 1 and 2. This is the reason for much of our confusion about life and living.
When I say “agriculture” in this article I’m speaking specifically about the farming of crops, vegetables and tree crops. I recently attended a so-called consultation to discuss the way forward for agriculture after the July 1 hurricane. At that meeting, I was shocked by the lack of foresight and vision towards the business of agriculture by the presenters. In fact, the chief agricultural officer encouraged farmers to plant more crops during a drought. What? The minister seemed to be more in a campaign mode than the people’s leader in the business of agriculture. Farmers were finally given the equipment and inputs that they applied for after the April 2021 volcano eruption and the 2023 drought.
The minister was encouraging farmers to unify and stand firm in not selling their dasheen for no less than $100 per sack to the “traffickers” (itinerant traders in agricultural produce). In this day and age? At the same time, he was thanking the traffickers for their hard work in moving produce out of the country, rewarding them with access to government facilities at a minimal fee, to be used for packaging.
This year, farmers are receiving significantly lower prizes for their produce. Beyond the traffickers, the private sector seems to have little or no interest in the marketing of agricultural produce. Farmers are unwilling to form cooperatives or invest in their farms. Most are simply planting crops to keep the supermarkets and traffickers in business.
The current government has absolutely no vision for the business of agriculture. They use terms like “food insecurity” loosely with no idea or plan as to how they are going to overcome that sort of obstacle. Banks and credit unions are very reluctant to accommodate farmers looking for capital to invest in their farms. The lack of irrigation and water storage for use in the dry season is a major problem for the continued production of crops during these months. Pricing is a major concern for many farmers because most of them only plant two or three crops that simply flood the market causing prices to fluctuate.
This year farmers receive up to 70% less for plantains than last year. Dasheen went as low as EC$50 per sack, ginger EC$1.50 per pound. With these prices, how can farmers even begin to feed themself and reinvest in their farms? Farmers need to see their farm as a business, looking at profit and loss, record keeping, multi-crop production, planting in stages, proper packaging and value-added.
Farmers need to produce goods for the international community of Vincentian. Nationals living overseas also need to invest in the exportation of farm products. This will help to create foreign markets, jobs and foreign exchange. Agriculture must be marketed as everyone’s business.
The ministries of Education and Health must play their part in encouraging the population to eat locally grown foods. Students, from kindergarten up, should be introduced to the importance of the business. Yes, at that tender age. The secondary schools should have agro-business as part of their curriculum. Not only the physical aspect of the business but also the technical, marketing, management and manufacturing components of agriculture.
The narrative that farming is a “dirty business” for old people must be rejected and redirected into a positive energy. Until farmers take a holistic and business approach towards farming, we will always be at the mercy of politicians and traffickers.
Give thanks.
Nigel Jacobs
Farmer and businessman, of Vincy Nice Products Riverstone Farm
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Is there anyone here who remember when James Micheal told Tom Adams of Barbados ” you bring the tourist and we ( St.Vincent ) will feed them ” ? and is there anyone who remember who said in their very first address “Agriculture is dead ,tourism is the way to go ” ? now look around at what svg has ( been brought to ) come to in 25 years ,we are now begging for food .
So much for Caesar.
People who are short sighted and vindictive are who are responsible for this situation in a fertile land that until now was responsible for feeding most of the caribbean islands , others stress the importance of tourism over food for the people .
There is a building in kingstown opposite to where five people were shot and killed last year at upper bay street about three hundred meters from the kingstown police headquarters and near to the grenadine wharf that house a supermarket was known as government supermaket or the marketing board can anyone remember why that building was erected and why it was needed ?,can someone explain to the populance ? .