ALTHOUGH I have said it so many times before, I feel I must say it again: we in Barbados must ensure that we are more self-sufficient in food.
Some efforts have been made but they are not enough. Every farmer and every food business must be on board.
No one should be saying, “I am not interested in import substitution; I am an importer.” You may find some day there is nothing to import.
In the SATURDAY SUN of April 9, two people in the supermarket business reported that some of the increases in food costs seen over the last few months was due to the increase in the cost of some basic imported items like carrots and English potatoes as well as meat products.
David Neilands, managing director of Super Centre, was quoted as saying that the impact of adverse weather conditions across the globe, together with increased consumption in China, and higher oil prices – which affect freighting costs – were largely responsible for the constant rising prices.
This once again demonstrates that we must be more in control of our food supply. The only way we can do this is to have a proper plan and support our farming community as far as possible.
We all need to show more appreciation towards our farmers for the job they do in producing fresh food for the rest of us.
After receiving a farming calendar from a Canadian friend last week, I visited the website of the Ontario Farm Animal Council which produced the calendar (www.ofac.org).
It was interesting to note that a recent survey showed that there is a growing positive perception of farming in Canada – especially Ontario. It could be partly because farmers there are more vocal about their work.
“Canadian farmers work hard to produce quality food, protect the environment and care for their animals,” says Crystal Mackay, executive director of the Ontario Farm Animal Council and AGCare, which commissioned the study.
Extra mile
“Farmers have really been going the extra mile to open their proverbial barn doors these past few years to talk about what they do and why. These poll results reflect those efforts and demonstrate that the Canadian public appreciates having conversations with the people who grow their food.”
We in Barbados need to have this type of dialogue with farmers.
We need to appreciate the challenges they often face to get produce on to the supermarket shelves.
Other professionals who undertake the simplest of agricultural projects soon realize that agriculture is not about sticking a plant in the ground and harvesting it some time later.
Many pitfalls exist and it takes knowledge and experience to avoid these pitfalls.
Our farmers face the same challenge of the future that Canadian farmers face – which is feeding more people on less land.
We have seen agricultural land go into housing – and in many cases it is some of the best lands in the high rainfall areas rather than that in the drier marginal lands on the coast. Farmers must therefore use the best technology available to effectively and efficiently maximize the yields they get on the limited land space available to them.
Just as the number of farmers has decreased in Barbados over the years, so it has in Canada.
The website mentioned notes that a century ago over half of Canada’s population were farmers. Today, it is down to two per cent.
It goes on to say that although the look of today’s farms has changed from our great-grandparents’ days, the heart and the soul of these farms, the people who work them, has stayed the same with these three priorities: (1) to provide safe, nutritious food – enough for everyone; (2) to make a commitment to care for animals 365 days a year; (3) to leave the land in better shape for our children.
I am sure that our farmers have similar priorities, but they need support and loyalty from all of us.
• The Agrodoc has 40 years’ experience in agriculture in Barbados, operating at different levels of the sector. Send any questions or comments to: The Agrodoc, C/o Nation Publishing Co. Ltd, Fontabelle, St Michael.
