THE EDITOR, Sir:
I NOTE with due concern Mr. Hugh Martin's article in the Tuesday Gleaner of June 13.
What Mr. Martin is missing is that, just as the minister says 'there are markets'.
The problem is that all crops grown in Jamaica and all animals (Fed Feed) from crops in Jamaica cannot compete with the imported products without tariffs. Why? Quite simple.
1. The same pathogenic problem that affects sugar cane affects most crops. This causes a lack of vigour in the plant growth, which results in low yield and, therefore, high cost per unit of production.
2. For some inexplicable reason, we protect certain chosen agricultural endeavours that use very little local content with massive tariffs.
This results in resources that would be better utilised in other areas going into areas that are of little or no benefit to the country or its people. Therefore, resources are just not available for real agricultural development.
I am, etc.,
CHARLES GILPIN-HUDSON
Belmont, St. Catherine
