THE EDITOR, Sir:
THE JAMAICA Agriculture Society has just staged the 50th anniversary of the Hague Agricultural Show. People from all walks of life attended for one reason or another. Not a lot of them paid attention to the more important bits, including the agricultural minister's speech (or so it seemed). The canine display was given undivided attention, though.
There was not a lot of ground produce on display this year, what with Hurricane Ivan and all. However, the livestock seemed to have held their own. There were on display, products derived from yam. They were fruit cakes, cookies, pudding and a yam punch. The idea was brilliant.
Trelawny is the yam capital of Jamaica and there isn't much we do with the tuber. The yam flour would have to be produced on a commercial basis though to make it attractive.
The show was held under the theme 'We are what we eat eat Jamaican'. But is there enough for us to eat?
I can recall the late Michael Manley making the same introduction in the 1970s, with dire results. A lot of work will have to be put in before we take that road. These include making farming attractive to the young and have them know the difference between a farmer and a farm-hand.
We should indeed eat Jamaican. We produce the
tastiest foods in the world and even visitors can bear witness to that.
I am, etc.,
YVONNE WILLIAMS
Lot 38 Hague
Falmouth, Trelawny
