Advertisement

Local farmers call for more incentives, less imports

00:00
00:00
00:00
Machester farmer Athlean Hutchinson and Manchester Association of Branch Societies (MABS) President Norman Murray
 
Farmers are calling for more incentives, more markets for their produce, and less importation in light of the high cost of agricultural inputs.
 
They made the call Sunday during the inaugural staging of the Manchester Association of Branch Societies (MABS) Food Festival at Mandeville Primary School.
 
The farmers, while welcoming the opportunity to showcase their produce, highlighted some of the challenges.
 
Athlean Hutchinson was among farmers who listed several challenges in the agricultural sector which impacted the cost-effectiveness of planting crops.
 
"Another challenge that we are facing is also the price, the price for produce.
Say for example, we may buy a pack of carrot seed for up to $10,000, and when the carrot is ready we can't get it for more than $40 per pound. And with work man money, and chemicals - chemicals [are] very expensive. So sometimes we have a glut on the market as well. 
 
"When we have a glut on market, sometimes it's difficult for us because when there is a surplus, it drives down the price. And as a result, we have to just content with whatever the middleman gives us for our produce. So it may take us probably $50,000 to cultivate a plot of carrots with seed and everything, and when we sell our produce we don't make back that much," she explained. 
 
Ms. Hutchinson said further assessment of the agriculture sector is needed to cut back on the food import bill.
 
"Because some of the times when the foreign Irish comes in, it drives down the price of the local produce. I think they need to put more incentive into the small farmer. I think more should they down for small farmers in this country," she insisted. 
 
Norman Murray, President of the Manchester Association of Branch Societies, said the food festival was geared towards bringing together various stages of the food chain.
 
"What we want to showcase is the offerings of our farmers as well. And one of the things that JAS [Jamaica Agricultural Society] wants to do, we are advocates for the farmers. And part of the advocacy is to provide a channel, a route for marketing for their produce. So we ask them to come out here to showcase what they have. And going forward we are working on avenues for them to showcase their produce as well, so persons know exactly what Manchester is known for in terms of the produce that we offer here," he said. 
 
MABS is the parish arm of the Jamaica Agricultural Society.
 


comments powered by Disqus
Most Popular
Man killed during TikTok livestream
UNC wins Trinidad & Tobago election
Labour Minister promises thorough probe of...