Caribbean Times 75th issue - Wednesday 23rd March 2016

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12 c a r i b b e a n t i m e s . a g Wednesday 23rd March 2016 AN EYE ON AGRICULTURE Agriculture needs a change in attitude and direction It is often said that if you fail to plan you plan fail and perhaps one of the most difficult problem confronting agricultural administrators in Antigua and Barbuda is effective management and implementation of developmental programs. From a historical perspective, the production of food was a peasant-oriented activity with very little institutional and financial support. Up to the 1960’s a thriving export market operated by plantation owners dominated agriculture production with a small domestic sector ill equipped to satisfy the local market demands for food. Unfortunately, things have changed but not for better. Fast forward to today and this thriving agricultural export sub-sector has turned into a high food importation market while local production is unable to provide regular supplies of high quality produce in sufficiently large volumes and at competitive prices. The efforts to improve the performance of the agriculture sector have only shown modest progress while the full potential for the successful production and marketing of agricultural products have yet to be realized. The high and steadily growing rate of food imports from extra-regional sources and increasing competition on the international markets for safe food at affordable prices have cause the government of Antigua and Barbuda to adopt a policy of Food and Nutrition Security. It is therefore imperative that agricultural technicians formulate policy guidelines that will form the basis for planning, developing and executing specific action programs and projects in the agricultural sector. It is the Ministry of Agriculture failed import substitution initiatives of the past, characterized by trade barriers coupled with production and marketing inefficiency, which have led to this new policy prescription of food and nutrition security. However, the poor performance of agriculture reflects the simple fact that Antiguan and Barbudan farmers have not received the institutional support from the ministry through its programs and projects. Agriculture is still unable to compete effectively for labour and budgetary allocations against the strong demand from tourism and the service sector. Project preparation is clearly one of aspects of By Ainsworth Grant agricultural development or planning. If agriculture is to assume a significant role in the national economy, it must do so through greater efficiency in the use of its available financial resources. Identifying national agricultural development objectives, selecting priority areas for investment and mobilizing resources are essential elements of any policy framework. However, achieving this is still an important challenge for our agricultural administrators. There is an urgent need for the Ministry of Agriculture to improve its institutional capacity to collect, record and analyse production and marketing data, which is critical for the planning process going forward. For most agricultural development activities, careful project preparation base on production and marketing information is essential to ensure efficient use of available resources. Unless projects are carefully prepared in substantial detail, inefficient or even wasteful expenditure is almost sure to result. Training of agricultural technicians in the area of management should form part of the ministry’s agriculture developmental strategy. Their capacity to prepare, analyse and manage projects must be enhanced. Technicians in important planning positions, continually underestimate the time and effort needed to prepare suitable and sustainable projects. However, management training for technicians will help in the change in attitude towards the ministry’s developmental goals. The change in direction can only be achieved if policy-makers recognize the need to change the image of agriculture. Editor’s Note: The opinions expressed in this Op-ed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Caribbean Times.
Wednesday 23rd March 2016 c a r i b b e a n t i m e s . a g 13 Look at the way you treat me By Jacqueline Wetherill Look at the way you treat me, search your heart and you will see. I felt pain and died for you, yet still you do what you want to do. Would you sacrifice your life for a child, tell me would it be a lie? I have given you grace, love and faith, I had to endure, they spat in my face. Look at the way you treat me. The wicked things they did to me, my blood was shed on Calvary. “Crucify Him, Crucify Him!” as my mother stood by, wondering why they were doing this to her child. Kunta Kinte in Roots didn’t have more blows than I did, as they shouted again, “Crucify Him!” The pains, the tears that I have gone through, I did it, my children, to let you know I love you. Look at the way you treat me. Think about my love, think about my goodness, think about my grace that brought you through. If it had not been for me, the LORD, on your side tell me where would you have been, tell me. When trouble overwhelms your soul, who can you turn to but Me? I am the I am, I am a miracle- working God. Honor me, honor my word, honor my commandments, just give the honor and respect. Look at the way you treat me. Some people behave as though God doesn’t exist. Only when they’re in trouble, there is a God. God is real and He always prevails.
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Caribbean Times 75th issue - Wednesday 23rd March 2016

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