#BTSpeakingOut – Farmers must own a plant

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by the author(s) do not represent the official position of Barbados TODAY.

by Michael Ray

The Minister of Agriculture has recently announced that Barbados will soon be renewing the Brokopondo agreement with Suriname.

This agreement has three components, namely trading in agricultural produce; utilisation of lands in Suriname for farming by Barbadians and providing scientific assistance/collaboration.

While this pact has potential beneficial spin-offs, Barbadian farmers must go beyond the planting of crops as inputs for animal and poultry feed.

Livestock and poultry farmers will continue to be at the mercy of feed producers, whether local or foreign.

Currently, Barbadian farmers are unable to join in the national effort towards lowering commodity prices.

Production costs are simply too high and low profit margins are the order of the day.

The salvation for Barbadian farmers goes above and beyond growing crops for feed inputs.

The question may be asked: For whom are these inputs to be grown ?

Barbadian farmers must become the owners of a plant, producing feed at a price far lower than what currently exists.

At this juncture, the Minister of Agriculture is in a fortuitous position to assist in linking the growing of crops for feed production with the ownership of a farmer-owned plant.

Anything less than this is likely to be the death knell of the local meat and poultry industry, accompanied by a larger food import bill and further depletion of scarce foreign currency.

Who will throw out a life-line and rescue such a vital segment of our local economy?