THE EDITOR, Sir:
BACK IN the good old days it was with much enthusiasm that young men in rural Jamaica did small farming alongside their fathers.
Many of them in addition to becoming small farmers learnt other skills such as masonry, carpentry and metal works. By the time they had attained the age of 25 they were fully accredited small farmers.
Later on, on the death or incapacitation of their fathers, some inherited lands; others saved and bought their own. By the time they began to make families they were quite capable of caring for them. They were also able to build humble shelters to house their families.
Successive generations of small farmers have seen their children through school, colleges and universities. Many of our professionals today are children of parents who have made their humble livings from the soil.
Today, it is suspected that if an islandwide survey should be carried out to determine the average age of our small farmers, it would fall somewhere in the 55-75 age group.
The young men from rural communities are no longer taking over from their fathers. They are more interested in moving away to the cities and towns where they feel that life will be better for them. But with very limited education, only a few will make anything worthwhile out of city life. In effect they are adding to the unemployment rate, and increasing the poverty level.
If the present crop of small farmers does not get any help from the Ministry of Agriculture, then when they shall have passed away there will be less food coming into our markets, and this will inevitably lead to increased prices, and more suffering for the urban people.
We are in the 21st century and the population has increased. If people continue to leave the land, there won't be enough food to feed the nation, and with our debt burden rising every day all that is left to say is: "Heaven help us all"
I am, etc.
LLOYD NELSON
Baillieston, Spaldings
Clarendon
