Hugh MartinTHE 109TH annual general meeting of the Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS) is scheduled for July 14. Expect fireworks.
President Norman Grant is going to have his hands full trying to control the hundreds of angry farmers who will be there to vent their feelings about the unfulfilled promise to have a praedial larceny control programme in place. A less brave man than Roger Clarke, Minister of Agriculture, would find a good excuse to be absent. But, knowing him, he will be there to face the music and he will convince them that he has done his best. After all, he brought the Praedial Larceny bill to Parliament last month and fought for its passage. He will plead a Shaggy "It wasn't me." Perhaps Opposition spokesman on Agriculture, J. C. Hutchinson, may wish to miss this occasion.
BREATHING SPACE
Two years ago Mr. Clarke won some breathing space when he got the Prime Minister and two other Ministers of Government to accompany him to the 107th AGM. That masterstroke paid dividends as both Prime Minister P. J. Patterson and National Security Minister Peter Phillips promised the enactment of legislation that would bring the long-awaited receipt book system into force within four months. The Gleaner reported the following day that this promise was met "with much snickering and cynicism" but by and large it was enough to calm the farmers' impatience.
The general elections intervened and the cynics were sure that that was that for praedial larceny. But, perhaps remembering that snicker, a month later in November 2002, and just within the time frame, the Government brought the promised bill, entitled the Agricultural Produce Amendment Bill, to the House for debate. It immediately met with opposition as many members were uncomfortable with certain sections of it.
The key feature of this bill is to establish a receipt book system that would identify "ownership and source of agricultural produce, crop and livestock being transported or traded within the island". A select committee of the House was appointed to study the bill and make the changes that would find general acceptance. That exercise took well over a year and a half and when brought back to Parliament by Minister Clarke in June one would have expected easy passage. This was not to be as Opposition members were so critical of it that the Government has had to withdraw it twice. It now it appears that it is not just the wording of certain sections that is unacceptable but the very concept of a receipt book system.
BEST CHANCE OF SUCCESS
This is strange to say the least as the idea was first introduced more than five years ago and was accepted by the vast majority of the players as having the best chance of success. One is forced to wonder also how come these objections were not aired and addressed at the committee level. Is it possible that the discussions did not in fact take place and that the introduction in June was a hurried attempt to get it over and done with before another JAS AGM?
For the receipt book system to work a number of things have to be in place. First of all farmers have to be registered and be in the database of the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) and the JAS and the police must have access from his station. In other words, when a policeman stops a motorist with agricultural produce and is not satisfied that the receipt for the produce is bona fide he should be able to go to his office and check its authenticity with RADA or JAS. Are the police so equipped? More to the point, do RADA and JAS have a register of all farmers in Jamaica? If such a register exists when was it done and when was it last updated?
AGRICULTURAL CENSUS
The last agricultural census was done by STATIN in 1996. The next one is due in 2006. A lot of changes in the farming population would have taken place over these past eight years. Death, migration, retirement, change of occupation, new entrants; all these could make a significant difference in the composition of a farmers' register if timely revisions were not being carried out. My information suggests that an acceptable farmers' register is not in place and as such the receipt book system is a good distance away from readiness. Perhaps the Opposition's challenge which resulted in the delay in the passing of the bill was not such a bad thing after all even if some of their arguments were insulting to the intelligence and honesty of the small farmer.
Hugh Martin is communication specialist and broadcaster who may be reached at humar@cwjamaica.com.
