BAS CEO urges Government to act on its pledge to lower water rates for farmers

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Barbados Agricultural Society (BAS) James Paul is calling on the re-elected Barbados Labour Party (BLP) Government to focus on finding solutions to address the production issues plaguing farmers.

Paul told Barbados TODAY that Barbadian farmers are struggling to produce a wide variety of agricultural commodities, because of several reasons including limited access to quality inputs such as water.

He said for too long farmers have been crying out about limited access to adequate water supply as well as the high price they have to pay for the commodity.

“We were promised by the Prime Minister that there will be a new water rate for farmers across the board and that is something that needs to happen if we are to maintain competitiveness in terms of the production of agricultural products in Barbados. Farmers need access to water at cheaper rates and this is one of the critical areas we need to find a solution to at this time for this sector.

“We need attention being shown to the agriculture sector and in critical areas. The truth is really that we have an overburdened system already. We have to look and see how best we can assist these farmers to do what they are doing better and that is where the emphasis needs to be placed. We have lots of good farmers who have all the skills but they have limited commodities and I think we need to see how best we can help them going forward,” he said.

Paul said Government also needs to review the system where cheap subsidized imports are allowed to come into Barbados, leaving already disadvantaged farmers struggling at times to get their poultry, meats and produce sold.

“This is an issue which needs to be addressed because we are pricing out local agriculture producers and their ability to compete in the market with these cheap imported products that we continue to bring in.

“Importers are finding ways to get around the system that we have and we have to be careful how we are actually issuing these import permits to these importers. People have no regard for the fact that they are bringing in commodities from people who have a significant advantage on local producers,” he said.

On Wednesday, Indar Weir was sworn in once more as Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, as part of the new Cabinet. anestahenry@barbadostoday.bb