Dear Editor,
A Daily Observer report of Friday, April 4, 2014 (p 22), stated 'Policy coming to regulate tobacco cultivation' in Jamaica'. It was announced that Government is expected to launch, within the next three months, a strategy aimed at discouraging the cultivation of tobacco in Jamaica. Under this initiative tobacco farmers are to be trained and are to be introduced to alternative crops such as Irish potato, ginger, tomato, and other crops for export.
For four decades Jamaica has been dealing with "the alternative" rather than "the additional". Tobacco farmers should be encouraged and assisted to increase tobacco production for export. In addition, other farmers should be encouraged and assisted to grow potato, ginger, tomato, and other crops for export.
At the same time, there are moves to legalise and grow marijuana for export. Regrettably, plans have been made to have some of Jamaica's best agricultural lands paved in concrete and asphalt, thus reducing farmlands.
Consider the sugar industry. In the mid-1950s Jamaica produced more than 560,000 tons of sugar in one year. The Frome Sugar Factory in Westmoreland produced 120,000 tons. More than three decades ago sugar was said to be "a colonial crop". Production declined.
In recent years, Jamaica has struggled to achieve annual sugar production of 130,000 tons.
Sugar is an important industrial raw material. An Agribusiness & Applied Economics Report, published in June 2013, shows annual world sugar production, during 2008-2012, at an average 160.7 million metric tons. About one-third of that production was exported. The world's sugar market has been growing and is expected to continue growing.
Agriculture is essential to the growth of Jamaica's economy. The convoluted thinking gives agriculture a beggar description. It is clear that "the alternative" has not worked and will not work. Jamaica needs to go for "the additional" in agriculture.
Alvaro Casserly, CD, JP
Kingston 6
aacasserly@cwjamaica.com
More, not less, for agriculture
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A Daily Observer report of Friday, April 4, 2014 (p 22), stated 'Policy coming to regulate tobacco cultivation' in Jamaica'. It was announced that Government is expected to launch, within the next three months, a strategy aimed at discouraging the cultivation of tobacco in Jamaica. Under this initiative tobacco farmers are to be trained and are to be introduced to alternative crops such as Irish potato, ginger, tomato, and other crops for export.
For four decades Jamaica has been dealing with "the alternative" rather than "the additional". Tobacco farmers should be encouraged and assisted to increase tobacco production for export. In addition, other farmers should be encouraged and assisted to grow potato, ginger, tomato, and other crops for export.
At the same time, there are moves to legalise and grow marijuana for export. Regrettably, plans have been made to have some of Jamaica's best agricultural lands paved in concrete and asphalt, thus reducing farmlands.
Consider the sugar industry. In the mid-1950s Jamaica produced more than 560,000 tons of sugar in one year. The Frome Sugar Factory in Westmoreland produced 120,000 tons. More than three decades ago sugar was said to be "a colonial crop". Production declined.
In recent years, Jamaica has struggled to achieve annual sugar production of 130,000 tons.
Sugar is an important industrial raw material. An Agribusiness & Applied Economics Report, published in June 2013, shows annual world sugar production, during 2008-2012, at an average 160.7 million metric tons. About one-third of that production was exported. The world's sugar market has been growing and is expected to continue growing.
Agriculture is essential to the growth of Jamaica's economy. The convoluted thinking gives agriculture a beggar description. It is clear that "the alternative" has not worked and will not work. Jamaica needs to go for "the additional" in agriculture.
Alvaro Casserly, CD, JP
Kingston 6
aacasserly@cwjamaica.com
More, not less, for agriculture
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