Water hike pays off

Despite being harshly criticized for increasing the water rate to farmers, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security Indar Weir said the move was necessary if Government was to continue financing the sector.

He said Government was committed to improving the agricultural sector and had earmarked several areas for increased production.

From May this year Government increased water rates for farmers from .60 cents per cubic metre to $1.80 per cubic metre.

“I do not know for the life of me how you can tell me that a fella is paying $4.66 for water, as high as $7.66 but another fella is paying 60 cents and that is ok by your conscience. I ask myself where is the conscience of anyone who expects us to continue to see the Government put in all the support for farming in Barbados but yet still it is being conveyed in a manner like if nothing is being done,” Weir insisted.

The minister said several areas had seen increased land production including 92.5 acres at Mount Poyer, 27 acres at Fairy Valley in Christ Church and 18 acres at Graeme Hall. He revealed there was a total of 342 additional acres of land in production providing crops and allowing for 250 additional farmers to make a living.

“I must say to you that there is tremendous work going across Barbados right now under the BAMC and the BADMC in order for us to be able to get production up…

“We also have three different Rastafarian tribes also at Bath planting sweet potatoes and yams and also what we call cash crops, things like lettuce and tomatoes,” Weir said.

“The expansion of the FEED programme has led us to be able to incorporate into the programme lands that were under the BAMC so we will now be moving to Vineyard and the north of the island to take up lands that were under the BAMC in order for us to be able to further advance the FEED programme.”

The minister said while water had proven to be the biggest problem for farmers, Government had invested in water at River and Lears and had also purchased 105 1 200-gallon water tanks to boost the farmers’ supply.

He said Government had spent over $20 million to provide water to farmers who were having trouble accessing it for their crops.

randybennett@barbadostoday.bb