I would like to thank the honourable Minister of Agriculture for his Christmas greeting card delivered by hand late last week. Maybe the SUVs used to deliver mail had mechanical problems over the Christmas holidays, or could it be that this ministry suffered early staff cuts? Of course, late mail delivery is nothing new to the public service where one often receives invitations to meetings long after the event. Hopefully in the new year this inefficient, expensive and labour-intensive delivery method will be replaced by the timely use of electronic mail as far as possible.
Another New Year wish is that we in Barbados finally realize that we have to become more self-sufficient and support our own. Developed countries have realized it and are promoting their agriculture – why don’t we feel the need to do the same?
This BBC news report warmed my heart, although some Caribbean countries will consider it a negative for them. The Right Hon. Owen Paterson, MP, minister, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, United Kingdom, is encouraging UK consumers to “buy more British fruit and vegetables to boost the economy . . . . We can’t grow mangoes or pineapples, but we can encourage UK consumers and food businesses to buy Scottish raspberries or Kent apples”. On the other hand, we in Barbados can’t grow raspberries or apples, but we can grow mangoes, golden apples, sweet potatoes, yams, sweet peppers and a host of other nutritious fruit and vegetables. So why do we continue to spend millions of dollars on food imports?
The British minister noted that 24 per cent of food eaten in the UK was imported despite “top class” production on home soil. He told the Oxford Farming Conference that farmers and manufacturers must “take action” to encourage consumers. Mr Paterson said the public sector should be supporting the UK’s world-class farmers and their top quality products. He praised the Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Trust for buying 92 per cent of its food from the UK.
The UK Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs’ catering providers say they are “fully committed to supporting British farmers and growers” and champion “the use of great British produce and seasonal British ingredients’”. If only we could get similar commitment here in Barbados.
Mr Paterson went on to say there was a “huge opportunity” for farmers, manufacturers and the government to promote UK produce. “By buying seasonal fruit and veg, we can improve the nation’s health, help the environment and boost the economy.” How many times have local agriculturalists expressed these sentiments? But the progress towards this goal is deathly slow.
We continue to promote our tourism industry while “putting down” the agricultural industry, although it’s clear that agriculture provides a tidy landscape which benefits tourism. In the UK, Prince Charles recognizes this tourism/agriculture link and is supporting the hill farmers of the Lake District who are integral to the managing of the countryside in such a way as to attract thousands of tourists every year.
Canada is also promoting self-sufficiency and the use of local products. There is a growing appetite across that country for locally grown foods. My brother who lives in Ontario, assists every year with the “Locally Lambton” dinner event to promote the use of food from Lambton County. The tourist brochures also promote the use of local foods. There are also food policy councils whose mandate is to work with governments and agencies to create policies that strengthen the food system and remove barriers to food security, as well as raise awareness on the steps needed to create a vibrant, resilient and local food economy.
Although, as Minister David Estwick noted recently, Barbados produces much more of its food than is recorded – some 60 per cent – I recall him saying we need to make a greater effort to cut our food import bill. There are numerous unnecessary products being imported which nobody would miss if they stopped coming.
Of course we don’t only waste foreign exchange on food items. I was horrified to read that Barbados imports over $2 million annually in wigs, weaves, false beards and the like. I suppose it will be claimed that this generates business and employment, but couldn’t supposedly educated Barbadians be more creative in their business than buying and selling these unnecessary items? Let’s wake up before it’s too late!
• Dr Frances Chandler is a former Independent senator; email fchandler@caribsurf.com
