Tough-talking Charles vows to break down barriers
Fish farmers appeal to minister for help to move sector forward
Published:Saturday | February 5, 2022 | 12:09 AMChristopher Serju/Senior Gleaner Writer
Agriculture and Fisheries Minister Pearnel Charles Jr on Wednesday disclosed that the Government has been engaging in talks with overseas investors to shake up the agricultural sector and make it more competitive.
Addressing fish farmers in Nightingale Grove, Bushy Park, on the first leg of a tour of fish farms in St Catherine by a ministry team which included State Minister Frank Witter, Charles said that a shake-up was necessary as well-established stakeholders in the industry had become complacent.
“We need to have a revival, a revolution in introducing technology and systems into agriculture. So we have to welcome new entrants and to increase competition. I have already started to speak to investors in Europe. I’ve made it very clear that we will, as a ministry, facilitate in terms of providing incentives to people. So if you know somebody who is interested, has the financial capacity and will be dedicated to growing that business, let them speak to us,” he said.
“Those who are here doing a fair job. They are making high profits and so, therefore, the push to do [things] differently might not be there because they are already doing very well,” added Charles. “Our role as Government will be to see how we can break down as many barriers as possible to make it attractive to them, so at least in the start-up, we can give them a boost.
“So again, if you know anybody or if you are interested because maybe you have the money to do it, let them know that we open, open to embracing them as new entrants in the market.”
In an informal sit-down session, about 15 fish farmers raised concerns about the sorry state of the inland fishing sector despite its potential for enhancing food security and nutrition and return on investment. The concerns were well articulated by Errol Gillespie, who bemoaned the lack of assistance from the State.
He went on list a litany of woes, including very poor road conditions; lack of equipment, specifically tractor service to build or renovate ponds; the lack of technical assistance from the Rural Agricultural Development Authority, including on infrastructure development; and the ongoing failure of the National Irrigation Commission to adequately service their ponds as the major issues impeding growth and expansion.
Gillespie, who operates on a 300-acre property, said that challenges in accessing water had severely handicapped his efforts to expand and increase production.
The straight-taking farmer handed Charles a list of his talking points, stressing that the group was comprised of hard-working and visionary men and women.
“I believe that if you could help to renovate or give us a high-pressure [water] system, that would open up the farming. So if you could speak with your technical person from NIC (National Irrigation Commission) to see how we can get it, and I am saying we, because we as farmers are not really looking for handouts; we want to do a joint-venture system, where over the next 20-30 years, when I am dead gone, whosoever acquires that property could do high-tech farming,” Gillespie said.
A farmer made it clear that having heard many speeches from agriculture ministers over the years, they would not be so easily swayed by just words and challenged Charles to deliver on his promises.
“I hope that what we discussed here won’t be thrown into the basket as usual. Over the years, we have had a lot of meetings about development plans, and after 50 years, we are still at the same place.”
“You were here 50 years ago?” Charles asked.
“No, but me grow inna it. Mi born come hear the story and live inna the story and see the story. So I just hope it’s not just a meeting and throw inna the basket,” she replied.