Opposition Spokesman on Agriculture Dr. Dayton Campbell
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Dr. Dayton Campbell
The People's National Party says it plans to impose a tax on imported foods to create a dedicated pool of funding that will help to develop the local agriculture sector when it forms the next government.
Opposition Spokesman on Agriculture Dr. Dayton Campbell explains that this tax will be similar to the levy imposed on incoming international calls used to create the Universal Service Fund, which has established Wi-Fi hotspots around the country among other things.
Addressing party faithful at a political meeting Tuesday night in Southfield, South East St. Elizabeth, Dr. Campbell said a dedicated pool of funding for the agriculture sector will help to modernise farming practices to bolster production.
He believes modern farming practices could also attract more young people into agriculture.
"If you get RADA to function and stop being a political arm of a party, but to actually function as a farming entity that is interested in developing agriculture, then you will able to have better extension services, you'll be able to have better land preparation," he argued.
Meanwhile, Dr. Campbell said the next PNP government will stop the importation of onions and Irish potatoes into the country within the first two years of taking office.
Dr. Campbell explained that this will help to reduce the country's high import bill, which he argued has increased exponentially under the ruling Jamaica Labour Party government.
The opposition spokesman also wants the Rural Agricultural Development Authority to assist with land preparation given the labour challenges confronting farmers. He said this will be a priority under a PNP government.
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