The Barbados Agricultural Society (BAS) is calling for tighter controls on the importation of onions when local supply can meet demands, as farmers now face stiff competition from imported produce.
The association’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) James Paul made the call as he reported that while farmers are reaping favourable onion crops at this time, they are not getting enough buyers because imported onions are being sold at a cheaper price.
“You have private players causing havoc on the local market for our onion producers at this point in time,” he lamented.
“The situation is bad because I have a farmer sitting down now with 300 bags of onions and cannot get them sold, and there are more onions coming. I know another farmer who is coming in with another field of onions soon and he will get challenges when they come in. Some farmers get through because they are well connected, but think about those farmers who don’t.”
Paul therefore urged the Government to provide greater support for farmers who are producing the crop.
“We need to control the importation of onions where that importation is going to turn out to be detrimental to local producers, especially when we are talking about food security and expanding the agricultural sector at this point in time. If you don’t provide the basis upon which you can expand that sector, you do not provide the necessary encouragement for farmers,” he said.
Paul complained that while the Barbados Agricultural Development and Marketing Corporation (BADMC) has put measures in place to manage the situation, including not putting imported onions on the market when locally produced ones are available, some importers are not following suit.
He said some private players are importing onions without regard to what is available locally.
“I really think that we need to have a situation where we better regulate the importation of onions. I think that where people can, without even reference to what is happening in the local market, just go and get an import licence, is not in the interest of the local onion farmers,” he said.
The BAS chief said it was also concerning that while onion farmers are facing an increase in the cost of inputs, including fuel costs, there are those who want to purchase the produce at the same price as 15 years ago.
He added that the time has come for a price to be set for onions to prevent local farmers having to compete with the cost of imported produce. Paul insisted that farmers cannot make a fair return if they are forced to sell their onions at less than $55 per bag.
“Right now, they are forcing farmers to take $45 per bag, and I blame farmers because they are not unified in their approach when it comes to the whole question of standing up to these people. And that is why we at the BAS try to get the farmers to coordinate their planting and coordinate their selling because if we hold out for a fair price, it has to come. But I think supermarkets at this time have to be fair,” he said.
“It has not been easy for farmers and I think that at a time like this where farmers should be able to recover their costs, we have some people that, because they have access to the imported onions, are not buying the local onions at a fair price. And this is where I think the BADMC needs to play a greater role,” Paul added. (AH)
