Paul: Crop Over losing its true meaning

Crop Over is losing its true meaning as a national festival, moving away from its roots as a celebration of agricultural achievement, the head of the Barbados Agricultural Society James Paul has said.

He expressed concern that the festival’s connection to the end of the sugar harvest and domestic crop production has faded over time.

He told Barbados TODAY: ​”Crop Over started as a celebration of the harvest, and when you are harvesting, you must have product to harvest. Unfortunately, there is that separation that has happened, and it has lost its meaning when it comes to the whole question of celebrating achievement in terms of agricultural production.”

​He added: “I think sometimes we are reaching the point where we just celebrate it for celebration’s sake, rather than looking to see why we are doing it. It should be that we are bringing real value to our country and celebrating the fact that our producers are doing well.”

​The farming spokesman questioned whether current national celebrations align with broader development goals, particularly regarding food security and public health. He urged Barbadians to consider whether enough progress is being made towards self-sufficiency and reducing reliance on food imports.

​”We talk a lot about the fact that we want food security and that we have to do it because of lifestyle diseases. The best nutrition is where you can eat fresh foods, but to what extent are we achieving these goals, or are we just saying these things because they sound politically correct?”

​Addressing public perceptions about healthy eating,  Paul dismissed the idea that local produce is unaffordable for average households.

​”There is this fallacy that it is too expensive to eat healthy. That is simply not true because there are simple, basic things that Barbadians can be doing in their homes to ensure they get nutritious and healthy foods.”

​Highlighting the annual Agrofest showcase, held in February, the BAS chief executive noted that events designed specifically around agriculture are crucial for promoting fresh produce and encouraging better eating habits. 

Defending farmers against criticism regarding food prices, he pointed to high spending on imported commodities:

​”Farmers get pilloried about prices, but when you look at the expenditure in other areas and compare it to imported foods, it is a hypocritical stance. Farmers can benefit more if they are assured that when they produce a commodity, they can receive a decent income to feed their families.”

Given modern agriculture’s vital economic role, Paul said it deserved greater financial recognition:

​”A lot of what people say about agriculture today is based on the past, but they do not recognise that people involved today are making a significant contribution using the best technologies available. We need to support them and recognise that they deserve adequate compensation for their efforts.”

​To strengthen the link between national cultural celebrations and farming, Paul advocated for policy changes and tax incentives to support the consumption of Barbadian produce.

​”Our legislation and policies should be designed to ensure that we reward those people who use local foods or drinks. Tariffs should be suggesting to people to look home first.”

​He also called on local academic and developmental institutions to focus research on expanding the use of staple crops like breadfruit, cassava, and sweet potatoes.

​”We need to see work done in terms of helping to develop the attractiveness of local foods and how we use them,” Paul urged. “We must make hard choices because the end game is that we want to increase agricultural production, and that production must have somewhere to go.”

(RR)