Green hopeful reporting of agricultural theft will increase amid boosted measures

By Kimone Witter    

 

Minister of Agriculture Floyd Green is hopeful that reporting of agricultural theft will improve now that a dedicated sub-sector of the Jamaica Constabulary Force is being recruited to respond to the incidents.

 

On Tuesday, Mr. Green announced that the government is committed to recruiting 300 agricultural wardens over the next three years at a cost of $1.8 billion.

 

Training of the first batch of 100 wardens will begin January next year.

 

In a subsequent interview with Radio Jamaica News, Minister Green said the measure should restore confidence among farmers that the ministry is serious about addressing the problem. 

 

"One of the things that we had seen is that there was an under-reporting. A number of the farmers never thought it made any sense, and even when they made that initial report, didn't follow up on it. The only way you can sort of change that system is restoring some trust," the minister conceded. 

 

"If we put enough things in place, so if we have these officers, these are agricultural wardens, if our police officers have the mobility... I think once the farmers see the responsiveness, once the farmers see that we have taken steps already to increase the penalties, once they see more boots on the ground, then the farmers will be more willing to participate," he asserted. 

 

Mr. Green said his ministry and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have secured a fleet of vehicles that are being donated by the government of Japan to help in the fight against praedial larceny.