The JLP will work to make traditional agricultural crops, such as sugar and bananas, more competitive and actively seek to diversify into higher value-added and niche market areas to benefit from our comparative advantages.
Current Situation in Agriculture
- Most small farmers produce mixed crops on small farms mostly for the Large and medium farmers and some small farmers produce mostly traditional export crops: sugar and bananas, as well as livestock.
- domestic market. They are the largest employment and self-employment segment of the population.
- Export crops are produced by larger farmers with some medium and small farms involved.
- Incomes from small farming are very low. Hence, the greatest concentration of poverty occurs in the small farm sector.
- Small farming has been damaged by substantial imports of cheaper products. In some cases meaningful, local production (e.g., potatoes and onions) has been virtually wiped out.
- Export of major traditional crops are in danger of failure because of the inability to produce at internationally competitive prices.
- Special dispensations have been given by the World Trade Organization (WTO) to provide protection from international competition for sugar and banana exports until 2006 and 2008 respectively. Failure to meet internationally competitive prices thereafter will result in severe decline in demand for these crops except for local needs.
- The reduced scale of agricultural research and fragmentation into small units has limited effective disease control, new cultivation, breeding technology and development of new crop and animal varieties.
- Livestock rearing has also been affected by cheaper imports of beef, mutton and dairy products. Additionally, Jamaica’s prized legacy of special cattle breeds, developed locally to meet tropical conditions, are now in decline as a result of negligence.
- Lack of irrigation on the southern plains is a major impediment to the production of crops.
- Increase in pestilence on a wide scale because negligence in disease control, has affected coffee, citrus, coconuts, pimento, honey and several other crops. Entire citrus groves and much of coconut are now being replanted.
- Extension services to guide small farmers on technology for better
- production and crop protection is now minimal.
- Interest rates are exceptionally high for agricultural development and maturities of loans are too short.
- The budget of the Ministry of Agriculture does not reflect the grave conditions in agriculture.
- “Safeguard” provisions under international agreements were recently invoked to provide some measure of tariff protection from imports for some crops for a specified period. The JLP will pursue all avenues allowable under the agreement for interim protection from imports.
Critical Issues to be Addressed
- Improve yields in domestic and export agriculture, to compete better and increase earnings.
- Rescue export crops (e.g., sugar, coffee, cocoa and bananas) and the livestock sectors.
- Introduce new production technologies and crops to boost earning power and provide a range of new crops capable of picking up the slack where existing production declines.
- Develop new and better irrigation, particularly for PedroPlains, Clarendon, and St. Catherine.
Agriculture Support Plan
#1
Establish a “new look” agricultural task force to identify international best practices in reducing production costs, improving yields and in identifying both international and local sources of low cost financing for farmers, particularly small farmers.
#2
Work with the Development Bank of Jamaica and the PC Bank networks to create LIFE- a Low Interest Farm Expansion program for small farmers.
#3
Introduce new crops and technology to put idle hands to work and employ idle hands.
#4
Implement a major national irrigation programme of all idle lands (50,000 acres) to put idle hands to work (cost: US$106 million) and increase agricultural production substantially.
#5
Start a major programme to use advanced technology (e.g., centre pivot irrigation) which can rescue the sugar industry.
#6
Encourage bio-technology research and extraction to develop pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, essences, and flavourings using Jamaican plants, particularly indigenous botanical species, as well as genetically develop internationally arketable varieties of local flowers and fruits.
#7
Attract high technology agriculture, such as soil-less hydroponics cultivation for vegetables, fruits and flowers for the domestic and export markets.
#8
Promote investment in profitable non-traditional crops such as cotton, lucaena, and mariculture (shrimps, scallops, abalone), aquaculture (freshwater fish), and horticulture (e.g., heliconias, gingers).
#9
Require milk solid imports through the Milk Board to provide production incentives for liquid milk producers to double output as occurred in the 1980s.
#10
Provide small farmers with a fair chance to market their produce by improving and upgrading 15 markets in rural areas.
#11
Actively use safeguard legislation to protect farmers while restructuring their production methods to improve yields.
#12
Vigorously enforce existing praedial larceny laws (e.g., requiring proof of purchase for agricultural produce and livestock) especially in rural areas.
#13
Support a market intelligence system to facilitate purchase of produce by hotels and to give information to farmers on future hotel requirements as well as to introduce new crops desired by hotels and cruise ships.
What are the prospects of the proposed new technology and crops in a “new look” Agriculture Support Plan?
Irrigation
- The irrigation project will cover all parcels of land island wide over 1000 acres. The project will:
- Involve 7000 farm families (28,000 family members)in 12 parishes
- Increase crop yields by US$132 million (J$6.5 billion)
- Cost: US$106 million (J$5.1 billion)
The Sugar Industry
- The sugar industry can be saved if it adopts new technologies and agricultural practices. The centre pivot irrigation system used in Australia, has revolutionized the production of sugar cane showing increases of 50% in cane and sugar and bringing costs down to internationally competitive levels. Total sugar output can be increased from 200,000 tonnes to 300,000 tonnes with costs well within internationally competitive levels if 6,000 acres of idle lands are put into production in St. Catherine and Clarendon to increase throughput into the sugar factories.
Sea Island Cotton
West Indian sea island cotton is a dream crop! Production levels are set by license and quota to maintain price and quality. The product is governed by trademark. The price for West Indian sea island cotton is currently US$8 per pound unit (lint) compared to the next best US$2 per pound for Egyptian Giza cotton. Production of the crop can be raised another 1000 acres using idle lands in St. Catherine and Clarendon.
Hydroponics
High-tech hydroponics (soil-less) cultivation is the answer to reduce production costs which will allow Jamaican produce to readily compete with the import of vegetables and many fruits. Yields are an unbelievable 30 – 70 times regular agricultural production! At these costs and yields, not only would the domestic market (including hotels) be satisfied, but exports throughout CARICOM and particularly to Caribbean hotels will be possible, opening a large market place.
Shrimp and Fresh Water Fish
- Production of saltwater shrimp has now been successfully established in the coastal area of Clarendon and St. Catherine. All production is readily sold and can be expanded.
- Fresh water fish enjoys a strong market, particularly in Europe. Production can be doubled from existing levels if sufficient water is provided.
Lucaena
- Lucaena is a most versatile plant. Every part of the plant can be used. The plant fertilizes the soil by fixing nitrogen through its roots. It grows over 20 feet per annum. The leaves can be converted to animal feed and to a rich fertilizer. Alternatively, the leaves can be used to produce a gas capable of fueling boilers to generate electricity. The limbs and stalks can be converted to charcoal which will reduce the cutting of trees for charcoal burning and remove the threat of denuding the land and eroding the soil. Thousands of acres can be planted on idle lands.
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