Barbados’ agricultural sector is in dire need of support, and the lack of food security is a threat to the country’s security, says Opposition Leader Ralph Thorne.
He was turning his attention to agriculture during his Reply to the 2024/25 Financial Statement and Budgetary Proposals in the House of Assembly on Tuesday.
Thorne said the sugar, non-sugar, poultry and
Among the issues he identified were:
– Lower numbers at the abattoirs
– Out of the promised 2 000 acres, only four are in cotton
– Sugar and non-sugar agriculture are underproducing
– Farmers predict this will be the worst local onion harvest
– The hooves of blackbelly sheep exported to Guyana are rotting in water-logged fields
– Farmers on the Land Lease projects can’t get water support and water rates are too high, crippling young farmers
– The local pork industry is in trouble and Barbados is now importing from Suriname
– Pig production has fallen from 35 000 to 30 000 a year
– The price compact forced down the price of chicken and put small producers out of the market, while a monopoly seems to be developing
– Thorne charged that the opening up of markets was now having a dampening effect on local production as the Government was turning to importation, the spending of more foreign exchange.
– He said although tourism was the main economic driver, the sector was not giving local farmers enough support.
(SAT)
I think individuals who have a little space on their premises should plant some foods.
My parents, grandparents, aunties, and others did such when I was a kid.
They did however depended of the stores for cooking oils and other stuff.
Barbadians need to do more for themselves and not depend on the government for everything.
They will not be able to produced everything but they can do something to help themselves.