AGRICULTURE
It is said that it takes an acre of land to feed a person for one year. Jamaica needs to establish its food security as
a matter of priorty. One of the first priorities will be the zoning of agricultural lands which cannot be used for any
purpose which will impact on the use of these lands for agricultural purpose in the future. Too many of our fertile
agricultural lands are being used for housing, roads, commercial and industrial uses.The importance of securing
our agricultural lands cannot be over emphasied as while we can import food stuff, in cases of drought these
suppliers will cut off export or increase the price to levels which are unaffordable as was seen in the case of
tomato when the crop in Florida recently failed. Protection will be given to our farmers to prevent dumping of
products on our markets as when our farmers are forced out of business the price of these 'cheap products' will
rise sharply as was the case of milk powder.
Steps will also be taken with a view to eliminate praedial larceny. This crime results in the loss of billions of dollars
each year to our farmers with some suffering losses amounting to millions of dollars in a single incident. This
activity have led to many of our farmers scaling back their operation or going out of business completely. This is a
great losss to the country and affects our employment numbers, balance of trade and Gross domestic product
(GDP). One of the role of municipal police will be to investigate and help curtail pradial larcency. Neighbourhood
watch programmes will also help to prevent this crime. Penalties will be greatly increased to reflect the severity of
the crime and to serve as a detterant. With the new approach to ploicing and active neighbourhood watch the
extent of pradial lanceny will be greatly reduced.
Apart from the losses suffered by farmers, there is also the threat to the public health when unfit product such as
sprayed vegetables or medicated animals are stolen, slaughtered and sold on the marketplace to unsuspecting
consumers. This poses a great risk to the health of members of the public especially pregnant and lactating
mothers and those persons whom are weakened by existing illnesses. The risk of having a baby with physical
defects, mental retardation as well as spontanous abortion are greatly increased. Similarly the threat of illnesses
caused by these chemicals or worsening of existing illnesses is very strong. The elimination of pradial lanceny will
be a top priorty of a JAP government.
RADA will be expanded to work closer with the farmers to provide technical services and prevent glut of products
on the market. There will also be be expansion of certain crops for both the local and export market for which we
have a comparitive advantage including organic produce. A comprehensive study will be done on the need for
irrigation or any study already done will be reviewed with the intent to provide irrigation for these areas. Effort will
be continued to provide land titles for farmers.
An extensive educational programme will be launched to educate farmers and the public in general on the use of
pesticides and weedicides so as to prevent and stop their mis-use and pollutuion of the enviroment. Many farmers
are experimenting with the use of chemicals for purposes that they are not intended. Assistance to small farmers
to acquire new technologies, as well as access to affordable pest and disease controls. Soil management must
also be an important part of improving agriculture in order to allow the soil to remain fertile so farmers can get the
best yield possible.
More factories need to be established so that value added product can be exported instead of raw produce.
Wastage of crops such as mangoes which goes to waste each year can be processed into juice and sold. The
improvement and maintainance of farm roads must be tackled so as to enable the easy transportation of produce
from the farm gate.
A JAP government will work to make it easier for persons to access land for farming and provide support for our
young and small farmers. With its overall thrust to maintain the enviroment in a healthy state the prospect and
outlook for our farmers will increase.
It is said that it takes an acre of land to feed a person for one year. Jamaica needs to establish its food security as
a matter of priorty. One of the first priorities will be the zoning of agricultural lands which cannot be used for any
purpose which will impact on the use of these lands for agricultural purpose in the future. Too many of our fertile
agricultural lands are being used for housing, roads, commercial and industrial uses.The importance of securing
our agricultural lands cannot be over emphasied as while we can import food stuff, in cases of drought these
suppliers will cut off export or increase the price to levels which are unaffordable as was seen in the case of
tomato when the crop in Florida recently failed. Protection will be given to our farmers to prevent dumping of
products on our markets as when our farmers are forced out of business the price of these 'cheap products' will
rise sharply as was the case of milk powder.
Steps will also be taken with a view to eliminate praedial larceny. This crime results in the loss of billions of dollars
each year to our farmers with some suffering losses amounting to millions of dollars in a single incident. This
activity have led to many of our farmers scaling back their operation or going out of business completely. This is a
great losss to the country and affects our employment numbers, balance of trade and Gross domestic product
(GDP). One of the role of municipal police will be to investigate and help curtail pradial larcency. Neighbourhood
watch programmes will also help to prevent this crime. Penalties will be greatly increased to reflect the severity of
the crime and to serve as a detterant. With the new approach to ploicing and active neighbourhood watch the
extent of pradial lanceny will be greatly reduced.
Apart from the losses suffered by farmers, there is also the threat to the public health when unfit product such as
sprayed vegetables or medicated animals are stolen, slaughtered and sold on the marketplace to unsuspecting
consumers. This poses a great risk to the health of members of the public especially pregnant and lactating
mothers and those persons whom are weakened by existing illnesses. The risk of having a baby with physical
defects, mental retardation as well as spontanous abortion are greatly increased. Similarly the threat of illnesses
caused by these chemicals or worsening of existing illnesses is very strong. The elimination of pradial lanceny will
be a top priorty of a JAP government.
RADA will be expanded to work closer with the farmers to provide technical services and prevent glut of products
on the market. There will also be be expansion of certain crops for both the local and export market for which we
have a comparitive advantage including organic produce. A comprehensive study will be done on the need for
irrigation or any study already done will be reviewed with the intent to provide irrigation for these areas. Effort will
be continued to provide land titles for farmers.
An extensive educational programme will be launched to educate farmers and the public in general on the use of
pesticides and weedicides so as to prevent and stop their mis-use and pollutuion of the enviroment. Many farmers
are experimenting with the use of chemicals for purposes that they are not intended. Assistance to small farmers
to acquire new technologies, as well as access to affordable pest and disease controls. Soil management must
also be an important part of improving agriculture in order to allow the soil to remain fertile so farmers can get the
best yield possible.
More factories need to be established so that value added product can be exported instead of raw produce.
Wastage of crops such as mangoes which goes to waste each year can be processed into juice and sold. The
improvement and maintainance of farm roads must be tackled so as to enable the easy transportation of produce
from the farm gate.
A JAP government will work to make it easier for persons to access land for farming and provide support for our
young and small farmers. With its overall thrust to maintain the enviroment in a healthy state the prospect and
outlook for our farmers will increase.
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THE JAMAICA ACTION PARTY
J A P