The agricultural sector in Grenada could be rebuilt within the medium term if the necessary structures, plans and programmes are put into place. That¹s the view of one of the island¹s agriculturalists, Dr. Kenneth Buckmire from the rural parish of St. Andrew¹s.

Dr. Buckmire has put together a 14-page document offering some ideas on modernising the agricultural sector in Grenada. Last week the first part of the expose was reproduced by Grenada Today newspaper.

Following is Part 2 in the series:

Instituting Financial Incentives

Many tax holidays and other incentives are given to the tourism sub-sector, the investment opportunities to the "business" sector can be institutionalised with a view to enhancing the general production of the State.

It would be a plus to the agricultural sector and gains in foreign exchange whereby as much as is feasible the use of local products from our natural resources are included in the agreements. Why can¹t a percentage of the food (meat, fish, fruits and vegetables) be negotiated as a package?

Our forest trees can be included in the building plant. The horticultural products can be incorporated with the cruise lines, the international airport, the banks and other high value financial entities.

The banks, the credit unions and the industrial development corporation can design a package that links loan with personnel of their staff to visit, assist and analyse their agricultural clients or customers on a regular cycle.

In this way a "Banking Extension officer" will be able to advise appropriate changes in keeping with the dynamics of business operations.

The financial institution, the agricultural functionary, the commercial sector and the Society will all benefit from this enhanced system.

Retraining/Educating

This is perhaps the most important immediate and cost effective activity. The summary being a refocusing of the land, water (fresh and salt) and animal productive sub-sectors.

Farmers to be taught improved production techniques. These should include land utilisation that is associating the soil testing results, land conservation techniques, water utilisation and conservation, integrated pest management, improved germplasm and scientific implementation of multiple cropping and multiple farming systems.

The water resources should be better managed and conserved. The tried techniques for harvesting freshwater to be re-introduced together with the use of mechanisation and appropriate technology. irrigation introduction using indigenous materials blended with modern materials can give systems appropriate for our various terrain.

The use of trickle irrigation systems, fertification and soil tensiometers should be reintroduced and made farmer friendly. In implementing the water resources techniques and utilization water for farming, agriculture and the production of fishing sector should be paramount.

What of crab culture, seamoss production, mollusc and echinodern farming? How can we utilise our lakes, the enclosed water area at the international airport and the large beautiful lakes to mention a few?

The long term water management would entail the construction of two to four dams in Grenada and several small ones in Carriacou and Petit Martinique that would be used to collect the rain and run-off water during the rainy season that could be utilized year round. Animal production should concentrate on poultry and small stock. Introduction of improved stock and utilising appropriate science and technology must be the focus.

Integrated with animal production should be energy production with the ultimate self sufficiency in energy associated with most of the poultry and pig farms. Biogas production would also help in improving environmental surroundings. Animal feed utilising local materials, improved pastures, production of sugar cane and leucaena could all be included in a farm retraining programme.

The extensive bio mass available and now left to waste or inadequately utilized should be incorporated into the animal production sub-sector. The multiple farming system well known, practiced and researched should be reintroduced to our farmers where appropriate. However, this must be accompanied with appropriate science and technology.

Retraining and educating farmers, Ministry of Agriculture personnel, members of the Marketing and National Importing Board (MNIB), Extension personnel at the Commodity Boards, small agro-processing and use of agricultural products can be achieved by the use of the available many local resource personnel working together with regional and international support.

This retraining and education can begin almost immediately with minimal cost thus helping to inject confidence and a sense of belonging among the agricultural sector.

Cash flow support

Cash flow support linked with poverty elimination or more realistically put, poverty reduction can be approached as follows:

(a) Weekly financial support calculated on the energy extended as per labour and agricultural commodity caloric value.

(b) Cash flow support to the agricultural sector calculated on the actual productive time spent in an agricultural pursuit. This can be explained by the man/woman hours spent actually harvesting a crop or in land preparation to name two examples.

©. Purchasing fruits and certain food commodities that are locally produced for the school feeding programme. The expenditure on the raw materials for the feeding of school child should be at least (80) eighty percent from local products.

(d) Every pound of cocoa, nutmeg or banana harvested above a minimum figure to be given an additional financial incentive.

(e) The producers of agricultural crops, animal products, fish (fresh & salt), crabs, wild meat, that can show (actually recorded) continuous production for at least (80-90%) eighty to ninety percent of a year be given a financial incentive that is presented twice per year to correspond to important national events.

(f) The small business agricultural entrepreneur. Persons involved in selling agricultural crops and commodities, local agro-processed items (nuts, red mango, tamarind balls, corn flour etc) both as local vendors and as export agents be given financial awards based on continuity, initiatives, range of commodities and quality.  An appropriate number should be chosen and the award should be 4 times per year.

(g) Students should be given a financial award each term for every grade for every educational institution in the state for activities that are poverty reduction related.

Example: number of times usage of drinks from local fruits, vegetable, eating of locally produced snacks; savings from walking instead of public transport; production of a commodity at home that is used by self or the family.

National Structural Plan

A national land policy that envelopes a National Structural Plan needs implementing in order to assist in maximising the use of our limited scare resources. Such a plan needs inputs from every sector of the population. Indeed, the grass roots should be meaningfully involved.

Questions such as, should housing development be directly related to certain types of agricultural pursuits? Would it be an improvement in national development on having industrial areas allocated in the rural areas?

Should the development and modernisation of our beaches and water ways encroach on National privileges? How can we preserve our remaining biodervisty? The last question begs the need for the medicinal plants, our unique animals, our historic heritage and our cultural diversity they are under severe threat. With population explosion and increased affluence severe pressures are being exerted on our land space for housing, building and of course cemeteries.

We as a people need to discuss analyse and plan a structural way forward.

Annual Agricultural Period

We must integrate land capability with land use and appropriate applied technology. Institutionalising an annual Agricultural Achievement Period to culminate in a National Exhibition could be a golden incentive for the agricultural sector.

The (52) fifty two weeks of continuous assessment of participants of the sector would increase productivity and stimulate our farmers. It is to be hoped that the methodology of evaluation will be accompanied within the field training.

The recording and analysis must be transparent and given professional decorum. Categories should be given meaningful financial awards eg. This can be related to the earning for our great cultural shows. Top performer or performers need to be nationally recognized. Is there a system in place for National Awards? e.g. Queen¹s honour list etc.

Food Security self-sufficiency and sustainability

A food security, self-sufficiency and sustainability policy need to be initiated. Such a programme would entail every element involved in food production. It would be excellent to plan for a (10) ten year period with various phases. However, an annual evaluation and refocusing would be paramount.

The linking of food security with food sustainability is crucial if we are to aim at achieving a great measure of self sufficiency. It should be realized that a National Water Management plan is necessary. Relating the nutritional status of the population to the economics of the commodities, the production systems and the international information pressures will be challenging.

However, by engaging the human resources of our people and the rich natural inheritance of our lands, a meaningful and possible plan can be achieved.

It is not sufficient in legumes. What of Grenada again being over (98) ninety eight percent self sufficient in corn seed planting material? These can be achieved in one to three years. By listing many of our products and characterizing them under the following headings: Import substitution, Food self sufficiency, Export potential, Product Development, Time for achieving an exciting and achievable ten year plan can be designed.

It is my hypothesis that having prepared such a draft, this must be discussed at strategic areas in the State. A few example of locations: St. Andrew: Munich, La Digue, Birchgrove, Byeland/Mirabeau

St. George - Willis/New Hampshire/Annandale, Mt. Parnassus, Grenville Vale, Mt. Morris, MT. D¹or.

There is also St. Patrick, St. David, St. John, St. Mark and Carriacou. The result of these discussions would result in the draft of a National Plan that can be finalised at a day long National Agricultural Assembly.

The resources of the State and available National personnel can then be given the task to develop and implement projects that would satisfy the National Programme. To summarise aiming at sustainability in agriculture should include six broad requirements:

(1). Maintenance of the physical ecological integrity.

(2). Integration of the various agricultural components.

(30. Achieving equality in production so that the ecosystem would regenerate natural resources and absorb waste outputs.

(40. Utilizing appropriate technology and basic scientific principles that would aid in maintaining the basic needs of the biological diversity.

(5). Satisfaction of the basic human needs as manifested in our social and cultural experiences.

(6). Identifying maintaining and protecting our National Parks.