Dear Editor,
Out of every bad situation cometh something good. In the 1960s, while China was engulfed in a deadly famine, India was edging by with hand-to-mouth imports. The good that came out of those crises is quite evident today. They are the two fastest growing economies in the world. These references magnify the importance of agriculture as the vehicle to overcome the present food crisis which the world faces. The only regret I have is that it has taken a crisis of this magnitude to finally shift attention to the land.
I was following the global and then the local responses to the crisis at the fora in Rome and Guyana respectively. Neither forum concluded with a plan of action that would address the problem of feeding the millions who are vulnerable and are eking out a survival living. The critical issue is how to ease the suffering of the millions of hungry in the shortest possible time.
My interpretation of the 10-point plan proposed by Mr Robert Zoellick is that it seems to be a trickle-down approach, while the recent agri-forum focuses more on agricultural investments from the international financial institutions. However, this will take time to organize and implement. Notably absent was reference to the risk factors involved, ie, pests, natural disasters, etc, for which there was no immediate plan or action.
While I laud the ‘grow more food’ campaign and the distribution of seeds by the AFC, I am concerned about the sustainability of these initiatives. The questions that inevitably arise are (i) how are we reaching out to the hinterland communities where stark poverty is visible? (ii) how many people have access to information, especially in those remote rural and depressed communities?
In the crises of the 1960s, Dr Swaminathan, a scientist who was the father of the ‘Green Revolution’ in India developed hybrid seeds amongst a host of other things that allowed farmers to dramatically increase their yields. This is what the Caribbean needs; this is what Guyana needs. We have so much uncultivated, fertile land that it has even perked the interest of the Jamaicans and Trinis – oh, what a shame on us. With so much land, ports and an ideal geographical situation, we ought to be dubbed the breadbasket of the Caribbean and not the ‘could be’ breadbasket that has so often been mentioned.
In addition, we have a large population of unemployed, unskilled and un-marketable youths and young adults. Such a situation creates the right conditions for a significant number of the males to gravitate to or become prime candidates for criminal activities and gang membership. It is no surprise that there is evidence of a number of young teenagers being associated with Fineman’s gang. We have to harness the energies of these youths so they direct their activities to gainful occupation in the productive sector. They can then be subsequently absorbed into the ‘grow more food’ campaign.
I would like to suggest a multi-dimensional approach: (a) In the USA it is a matter of pride to serve the country, and it should be a matter of pride for us to serve our country also; (b) modify and restructure the national service, give it a new name with less focus on military training and more focus on vocational/skills training, especially agriculture; (c) the Ministry of Agriculture should be more proactive giving seed, fertilizers, pesticides and advice, etc, on where, how and what to cultivate, and develop high-yielding seeds and plants; (d) reach out to the depressed, remote and hinterland communities and make land available to them; (e) organize people in groups/clubs, co-ops, etc, to give guidance and know-how – eg, utilize the cleared land aback of Buxton in organized and controlled agri-activities; (f) improve infrastructure work – roads, dams, canals, etc; (g) promote markets locally and overseas; (h) develop industries such as fish, cattle, poultry, etc; (i) develop processing plants, bio-fuel capacity, etc; (j) cultivate quality products for the export market.
Yours faithfully,
D Singh
