Paul welcomes review of incentives programme

Reports that the Ministry of Agriculture is in the process of reviewing the structure of its incentives programme, with the view of increasing its efficiency and its impact on the local agricultural sector, is being welcomed by stakeholders.

Chief Executive Officer of the Barbados Agricultural Society (BAS), James Paul, speaking to The Barbados Advocate recently, contended that while the incentives programme has been a benefit to the sector, he agrees it has to be reviewed if the sector is to get the maximum out of it.

“The current incentives that are there I think we need to continue them and perhaps enhance them, but certainly not discontinue them. I do not believe it is a case where we should not have them anymore, because they have been instrumental in helping farmers and developing the sector,” he said.

Paul added that given the slow growth in the economy, and the country’s excessively high food import bill, he thinks that going forward it is extremely important that greater focus is placed on increasing local food production. He explained that in addition to lowering the food import bill, such would help to improve the country’s food security.

To achieve that, he said it would require that Government helps to create more of an enabling environment that allows more persons to choose agriculture as a career option, so as to assist in boosting not only livestock and crop production, but agro-processing as well.

“At present, for example, there are incentives in relation to cultivation, aimed at bringing agricultural land back into production; there is also an incentive that relates to AI, of benefit to persons interested in engaging in artificial insemination; there are incentives for people desirous of doing organic farming and incentives for investments. That is by no means an exhaustive list, but it would serve the country well to see if there are other areas that perhaps Barbados should explore more in respect of agriculture that is not already covered, and put measures in place to encourage persons to get involved,” he said.

The BAS official added that it is essential that the farming community feels encouraged to access the incentives, and that the process is user-friendly. That, he suggested, would ensure that persons do not feel disinclined to engage the ministry. (JRT)