by Keith Ventour
Grenada’s economy continues to wobble as the country moves through the Covid-19 crisis.
Since the first lockdown of March 2020, our economy, like the economies of other countries, has been stifled by the global economic fallout.
In the last 20 years, the tourism sector has felt the brunt of man-made and natural disasters. A number of events can attest to this. This includes 911 in 2001, Hurricanes Ivan and Emily in 2004 and 2005, the financial collapse in 2008 and now the pandemic. These events have exposed our over dependence on Tourism and the need for us to develop a more resilient and diverse economy.
The Honourable Gregory Bowen put this problem in its macro-economic perspective in his budget presentation on 2 December 2020.
“The impact on the eight-member Eastern Caribbean Currency Union (ECCU) is particularly acute, given the small size of their economies, heavy dependence on tourism, limited resources, and inextricable link to the global economy. However, data for the first half of 2020 indicated major declines in all sectors of the economy, particularly the Tourism and Private Tertiary Education sectors. As a result, an overall double-digit contraction of 12.2% is estimated for 2020 in contrast to the 3.2% positive growth projected at the start of the year.”
In our relatively small one-sided tourism-based economy, many businesses are “catching their nen nen” to survive. Many of them continue to depend on government’s periodic economic relief. Several families have been heavily compromised as more breadwinners become unemployed. If there is one thing this pandemic has clearly taught us, is the need to diversify our economy. We cannot continue to depend heavily on the fragile “airplane and mega ship” industry. We must look to develop the much talked about New Economy. This involves the creation of an agro-industrial sector with the production of value-added products. Together with this, there must be parallel growth and development in the Livestock and Fishing Sectors. Export Services are essential in the new economy using high-end technology.
It is disappointing, to say the least, after what we experienced in 2020, that our current leaders did not seize the opportunity to correct 3 decades of political negligence, by putting agriculture back in the forefront of our economic development. Even after giving recognition to this urgent priority in the preamble to his Budget presentation on December 2020, Minister Bowen did not proceed to have this reflected in his allocation to the agricultural sector. A meagre EC$18.6 million or 1.5% of total expenditure was allocated. Neither did he outline qualitative changes to remodel and refashion the antiquated approach to our agricultural development.
I will caution our government not to make the same mistake in the 2021 budget presentation. We need to move beyond theoretical overviews into inherent policy shifts. We do not have to re-invent the wheel. What is needed, is a re-look at the 1979 to 1983 agriculture development dossier with a 21st century strategic outlook. Many of our present farmers are the product of the revolutionary period when the Mirabeau Farm School was set up to educate and train young persons in new methods of agricultural production. The recurring policy by successive governments of discarding positive initiatives and projects begun and implemented by previous administrations is backward and self-defeating. The PRG rolled out many important initiatives in the agricultural sector and, unlike, succeeding administrations had the political will to make the organisational changes needed to move agriculture to another level.
The following were positive actions taken by the PRG to develop our agricultural and fisheries sectors:
- Mirabeau Farm School was set up, along with ones at Boulogne, St Andrew; La Sagesse, St David and Victoria, St Mark at a later stage
- Lease agreements were signed with landowners who had idle lands, to put these lands under agricultural production
- Loans were secured to build farm and feeder roads to assist farmers to safely access their agricultural lands
- The Marketing Board was re-branded the Marketing and National Importing Board The new perspective sought to control to a minimum, the price of basic food items imported They included sugar, rice, milk, fertiliser and truck tyres. With this setup, farmers were guaranteed fixed prices for their fresh produce, as well as an agro-processing plant and a regional and international market to sell their fresh fruits
- Collection depots were set up throughout the country to collect the fresh produce for the MNIB
- An agro-processing plant was set up in Frequente, St George to process and can local juices for sale locally, regionally and internationally
- Separate cocoa and coffee processing plants were set up in Telescope, St Andrew for commercial purposes
- A fish processing plant was set up in Frequente
- Fishing trawlers were donated by Cuba to train fishermen in deep-water fishing
- An experimental Black Belly sheep livestock farm was established in Mt Hartman
Agriculture is and can become a more profitable and viable sector. To make this happen government must show the political will to lead from the front. Notwithstanding the varied assistance given to farmers by government, farmers need access to more technical and monetary resources. In this vein the political directorate must engage our lending institutions to release the needed capital at more favorable and concessionary terms to attract young people to farming. Investing in a robust agricultural sector, will in a profound way, achieve for us a platform for employment creation, new opportunities in agricultural research, higher foreign exchange earnings and increased food security for all.
We need a short, medium and long-term plan in order to elevate the agricultural sector. Our education curriculum must be reset in all areas to reflect the country’s need in the 21st century and beyond. Young people must be taught to see agriculture as a business. Their focus should be on production and attaining higher yields, but management and marketing must be important development components. The availability of agricultural land is a critical asset for young persons to realize this dream. We need a serious land policy in this regard. Government must be steadfast, dutifully firm and unwavering when making decisions to sell Crown arable lands. They must seek the assistance of foreign countries in unlocking scholarships, technical support and training.
There are some persons who have tried without success to diversify and set up agro-processing factories. In my humble opinion, the main reason for their failure was the absence of sufficient backing from government. The required infrastructure was not in place for the survival of these ventures. This included raw materials, marketing and financial support. There are individuals involved in cottage industries, which involve the use of agricultural products to make items to eat and drink for sale. A private sector-led initiative with full government backing, can ensure all necessary material, financial, legal and other support, are readily available to these entrepreneurs.
It would be remiss of me not to highlight the positive aspect of the ‘79 – ‘83 era, where wasting fruits were collected by individuals, sold to the state-run agro processing plant, processed, canned and retailed as mango nectar and juices, locally, regionally and internationally. This was undoubtedly a proud national moment. In hindsight, the question is, where would our agro-industrial sector be today, if the powers that be did not sell/give away our plant machinery to Dominica after the collapse of the PRG in 1983?
However, there is a negative, a distraction, a disincentive to agriculture, in praedial larceny. It is unconscionable for farmers to do the hard work and then suffer the vandalisation and theft of their products. Our legal system must ‘watch no face’ in using the law to deal with those perpetrators. We are in the 21st century. We must step up our game and use the available technology to protect the blood and sweat of our famers.
It is therefore incumbent on our present Minister of Agriculture, to get on the ground, use all the necessary resources, use his past experiences, pull out the old agricultural master plan, massage and refine it to achieve a 21st-century agricultural productive sector.
It is time we stop the talk and walk the walk. Let us adopt and implement policies that will transform our agricultural sector.
No. No. No… the very same agriculture that successive political groups used to decimate the country’s international competitiveness over the last 70 years? Return to it now? Oh. Oh. Oh. Wake me up. I must be dreaming !!!
I am so thankful that someone else is realizing that agriculture is the way to go. It is a win, win period!!!!
I live in Canada and visits my beautiful country ever so often, taking the time, every visit, to go places that I have never been when I lived in Grenada. I was astounded to see the amount of wasteland, no farming as in the old days. Cocoa and nutmeg trees are just covered in vines, why? Why my people? Yet when I visit the supermarket, only to realized that wait, we importing farmed foods, why? Why cant we grow what we eat and export the excess.
There are markets in North America and Europe that don’t grow what we grow, especially organically. I am always surprise and disgusted when I go to supermarkets in Canada and see forced ripe/picked mangoes, avocadoes, guavas and golden apples, etc. not yet ready and being sold for so much.
Let us get back to the land! We don’t have to use cutlass to clear the bush, learn from others as there are farmed vehicles/equipment available that will take care of the more manual work. Not like in the days when our fore parents used to work under the cocoa. Farming is much, much easier than we think.
Mangoes, corns, avocadoes, guava, etc. are grown by the acres, not no little bit here and there. Let us use that method to grow the foods that are needed. farmed foods is a market that will never die as long as we live and its the way to build back our economy better. Lets not depend on tourism, but rather see it as an enhancement.
Most of all STOP selling our land to foreigners!!! Rather Government own it your self and develop it, and put Grenadians to work, keeping the money in OUR country. Don’t give other countries our sweat and blood as they wont do it for us, THINK PEOPLE, THINK!!
I think that having a strong agricultural sector is a win win for both domestic and international consumption. We will be able to feed ourselves and still make some money. Everybody needs food daily.
Back in 2011 I had a meeting with the then Minister of Agriculture about establishing a completely different approach to Grenadian agriculture which was to enter forestry using a single species called The Pawlonia Tree. using private and government land not in production. It is the fastest growing hardwood in the world where the first cutting can be taken in 7 years and the tree regrows from it’s own base. It has an established board foot value, it is lighter than most hardwoods, rot proof, strong, easily exported, it can be used as a biomass fuel and attracts valuable carbon credits. Sadly the Minister passed away as did the information I gave to the government. Another advantage is that it is a product which is not cyclical like tourism or bruit/nut products and is pretty impervious to hurricane damage as it regrows from a damaged stump. Maybe one day…..
Oh when will those enamored with the glory days of the revolution learn to stop beating the dead horse of agriculture!
Don’t get me wrong. I’m all for economic diversification and it’s important to be able to feed your people. But beyond providing a measure of local food security, let’s not deceive ourselves about the power of agriculture to economically transform Grenada.
Let’s not compare the apparent successes of the heavily subsidized socialist Grenada Revolution of 40 years ago with the reality of an island having a topography that is unsuitable for mechanized, competitive agricultural production on a mass scale trying to compete with many other countries having the ideal topography and hence mechanization that we unavoidably lack.
It’s time to let go of the antiquated good old days of back-breaking manual labor in the fields to produce crops that our guilt-ridden former colonizers were happy to subsidize with lower trade tariffs. That world has ended. Accept it. Move on.
Let’s focus on areas where we actually can level the playing field with other countries, such as ICT. We have brains just as everyone else. We can educate our youth to get involved in app development; producing software companies etc. That’s just one area there are others.
It’s time to let go of the past. Look around. We are no longer living in the 1980s.
The scripture says – “if you don’t farm your own land you will become poor in it.” If this plandemic and other events have not teach individual Countries how true and real this scripture is, then the crisis was wasted and did not learn from it. To be clear farming your own land means more than farming, it means to produce all the things you are capable of to be self sustaining. If you are going to totally depend on others to feed your countrymen then you are setting up yourself for failure. This lack of food security has many wide and far reaching consequences which also affects our healthcare (cancer) and healthcare systems.
Farming don’t have to be back- breaking anymore (even though it can be a good workout: our fore-parents live longer/healthier). Farming is very technical and modernized today. The focus of farming should be on key food items that can be produced efficiently that can sustain food security for any Country. The idea is not to produce everything because that is impossible for small Island nations to achieve. Three to five food items can be the main focus, one main food item can be CORN for its wide use.
Almost all Countries subsidized farming because it is a food security issue and rightly so. Therefore small Island nations should do the same but only on key food items. Sad will be the day when all Countries closed their borders for whatever reason and as a result you STARVE OR DIE with your money in your pocket waiting for food imports. The money you made from Computer Technology will not save you because Countries will not sell their reserved to you in an emergency. A Good example of this is the stop of medical supplies from leaving the USA during the pandemic.
I am not discouraging other fields of endeavor, however I just want to sensitize the need to include Agriculture in the Economic development of small Island Nations in whatever we do.
All Countries big and small should create a sweet balance between providing some form of food security and developing other industries because as long as man is on this earth we all need to eat.
Very incisive article Keith. many years ago I had a lengthy conversation with Mr.Noel, a leading Grenadian entrepreneur/agriculturalist and in the conversation, one of the things he bemoaned was the fact of the disjointed approach to education and agriculture. He passionately pointed out that the educational approach to agriculture in Grenada, and in fact throughout the region was more of eduction people towards being consumers, rather than producers.
Agriculture was taught as a subject divorced from the land, and more related to office work, work in the ministry of agriculture, rather than as something that can make a serious impact on the economy, a sustainable and rewarding way of life, as well as financial rewards.
part of that conversation included the inducements offered to local farmers and potential farmers and entrepreneurs to give this sector serious consideration. ie that there should be the same kind of tax incentives that are offered to foreign “investors” offered to people willing to operate ventures in Agriculture and spin-off production, some of which you so eloquently articulate. Greater targeted resourcing of education formally and informally. The encouraging of cooperatives, and the use of former productive estate lands to facilitate such developments. The continued use of new and available technology as well as developing new technologies gained through experience and experimentation that is ecologically sound. This could help in facilitating Grenada’s development plan as well as leading the way as a blueprint nation for sustainable self-reliant economies in small nation-states. The possibilities for our young minds and the not-so-young ones are endless for participation in an economic model and in particular an industry that we are so blessed to have the natural resources to work with. I hope that all concerned will look at this with opened eyes, opened hearts, and a determined will to move Grenada forward, with the realization that our future is literally in our hands.
So