The Editor, Sir:
The state of the world economy gives cause for concern and the alarm has been sounded for the effect this will have on Jamaica.
With a threat of widespread poverty at this time of crisis, The Gleaner editorial of February 10 - 'Unlock the wealth of the poor' (in making reference to the book by the Peruvian economist and thinker, Hernando de Soto) stated, "The Jamaican Government controls an abundance of land, useful for both agriculture and housing development. It would seem to us that a carefully crafted transparent and accountable programme of land distribution ... could help to unleash the economic potential among people who daily demonstrate keen entrepreneurial skill."
The Farquharson Institute supports the proposal for an intelligent programme of land distribution. The use of land for agriculture is relevant at this time, "as the country scrambles for responses to the global economic crisis".
The institute accepts the adage that the people are the most precious resource in Jamaica and recognises that land is the next; but there are difficulties for joining the land and the people together effectively, in an agricultural programme for lessening the spread of ruinous poverty.
Lifting the burden of poverty
The Farquharson Institute invited specially selected persons to make presentations at its council meeting on agriculture as the way for lifting the burden of poverty throughout Jamaica.
Jacqueline da Costa, a former permanent secretary at the Ministry of Land and the Environment, gave an overview on land and what is available for housing and agriculture. A land policy that was prepared for government is little used and this is a point that must be dealt with urgently.
Mark Brooks, a farmer and the lone voice in the wilderness as an activist for soil health, made a powerpoint presentation on land degradation, showing how soil health matters but not enough attention is paid to it.
Dr Percy Miller, a soil chemist and a former research officer at the Ministry of Agriculture, pointed out that land settlements in the past were successful; whereas the later land lease and food farm projects did not enjoy similar success due to insufficient funding.
Hopeton Fraser, a former principal at the College of Agriculture, Science, and Education (CASE), said that the training for agriculture at CASE is a success story and graduates are making valuable contribution to agriculture.
Lloyd Ellis, retired senior puisne judge, in his summation said: "We have the people, we have the land, and we must get on with the job of implementing programmes for using available resources in the present economic crisis."
The Farquharson Institute was informed that most of the land suitable for agriculture is in private hands and, in many cases, land that was made available is used for commercial purposes or left unused in ruinate.
There seems to be 'an embarrassment of wealth' for land, labour, capital, and expertise that can be used in programmes for making agriculture the vehicle for the relief from poverty. Suffice it to say, when so many are at borderline poverty, the painful lessons learned from projects such as land lease and food farms must not be forgotten.
To avoid imminent disaster we must seek out those at all levels and across all divides in the society who can make a contribution to existing resources for agriculture. Government can provide the land and the expertise but the financial support is not there.
Challenge
Here, there is a challenge for the private sector, especially for the financial institutions to add more money for agriculture on less restrictive terms.
Ultimately, it would be in their own best interest to take part in efforts for getting the land and the people together as a response to the economic crisis.
If we are to follow the de Soto model for agriculture, while the Government gets its act together, the responsibility for 'unleashing the economic potential among people' is not for the Government alone - we are all involved in some way.
I am, etc.,
FRANK PHIPPS
phipps@infochan.com
Chairman
The Farquharson Institute
of Public Affairs