Hugh Martin
I WOULD like to be among the first to congratulate Mrs. Portia Simpson Miller, the new president of the People's National Party and soon to be Prime Minister of Jamaica, on winning the coveted post. Be assured that now that the selection has been made you have the best wishes of all Jamaica - but much is expected of you. Your mission must be to unify this nation and to lead us into twenty first century prosperity.
All the candidates for the post, in outlining their programme for national development, cited rural development as one area that would be given attention. Some-how though, I got the impression that it was not a priority area for any one of them, and their statements seemed to be more response to questions posed rather than deliberate formulated policy.
My humble suggestion to you Prime Minister-elect is to place rural development at the top of your priority list. If you wish to deal effectively with the appal-lingly high levels of crime and unemployment, give some real attention to the rural towns and villages and make agriculture one of the main areas of focus.
This country is so blessed with natural resources that it boggles the mind how they have been left unexploited. The best coffee in the world - and if you doubt it ask yourself why does it command the highest price by far.
The best cocoa, the best ginger, the best pimento - and we could go on and on.
In the sugar cane plant we have the most efficient converter of energy and a renewable source at that which could provide us with most of the electricity we need, yet we rely on imported oil.
Bamboo, another excellent source, grows wild and unacknowledged.
ACKEE
We have seen where we neglected to develop our pineapple industry and Hawaii took it and ran away with it. We are in danger of allowing the same thing to happen with our ackee.
If it weren't for the superior quality of our pimento Mexico would have wiped us out, but the high price it commands by virtue of its scarcity may well soon have the same effect.
We've allowed our ginger to decline to the point where we have to import to meet local demand, stuff that requires two pounds to do what an ounce of the home- grown variety can do.
NUTMEG
Another spice, nutmeg, literally grows wild in Jamaica while we import nearly 70 per cent of our requirement. The export division of the Ministry of Agriculture guarantees purchase of all nutmeg produced in Jamaica, but only about 15 tonnes reach it each year.
About 30 tonnes is imported for use by local processors. Here again, because of its superior quality there is a great potential for export of this crop, but we have failed to do what is necessary to encourage its development.
I was reminded of this waste a few days ago when I received a call from a former schoolmate who has retired to his farm in St. Mary.
He wanted to know if there was any market for nutmeg as he had lots and lots rotting on the ground under the trees growing wild on his farm.
Well, he now knows that he could be on to a good thing as the export division cannot get enough to supply the local market and would like to get to the point where it can begin exporting as it does with pimento. In fact, in 1975 it had provided growers with some 20,000 seedlings to be planted in the north eastern parishes of St. Mary, Portland and St. Thomas where it seems to do well.
What is interesting about the nutmeg plant is that it requires very little care and is not affected by any known disease or insect pest. Could this be an indication of properties that are suited for the production of non-toxic pesticides?
The possibilities existing in our numerous plants are innumerable. Our new Prime Minister has the opportunity to seek out, encourage and exploit our every potential. Let's see how responsive she will be.
Hugh Martin is a communication consultant who may be reached at humar@cwjamaica.com
