Organic agriculture poise to grow locally
published: Saturday | January 18, 2003
Claude Wilson, Freelance Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
INTERNATIONAL CONSULTANT on organic farming, Ulrich Helberg is currently in the island assisting the Jamaica Organic Agriculture Movement (JOAM) in putting together an organic production handbook that will serve as a guide for the production of a range of crops and livestock products. According to JOAM co-founder, Dr. Joseph Lindsay, the consultant is also looking at a local standard for organic farming that the JOAM has drafted and wants to implement. " He will also assist in the setting up of a certification programme to verify that material or products are genuine organic products in Jamaica".
There are benefits that can accrue to Jamaica agriculture from establishing certification, according to Mr. Helberg, who has worked in similar consultation in India and countries of the South Pacific, Papua New Guinea and Madagascar. "Certification gives assurance to the consumer that they are buying genuine organic products, which might fetch a certain premium (price) but this should not be the main reason to go organic. The main reason should actually be to protect the environment, to use the land in such a way that is sustainable to be used for future generation.
The decision to change from traditional to organic farming in a scenario where the Jamaican farmers need to produce large volumes and quality produce to supply an extremely competitive and globalise market may prove difficult to make.
