The Editor, Sir:
When one considers the impact of praedial larceny on the livelihood of the farmers of Jamaica, one would be confronted with the devastating reality that the losses extend far greater than the monetary value. Over the years, praedial
larceny has stifled the continued growth and development of the agricultural sector.
The Agricultural Produce Act which was incorporated in 1927, has been amended with the aim of effectively controlling and monitoring the incidence of praedial larceny.
Key players within the implementation process are the Jamaica Agricultural Society, the Ministry of Agriculture and Lands and the Ministry of National Security.
The amended act now includes National Farmers Registration, and the use of the Agricultural Produce Receipt Book System, with the main objective to streamline operations within the agricultural sector.
The direct means of providing evidence or proof of any business transaction is through the use of receipts. Agriculture, as a lucrative and viable business entity, should not be exempted from being transparent and should offer a certain level of accountability to its clients.
The Agricultural Produce Receipt Book System is a clear means of providing proof of purchase, traceability of agricultural produce and protection of a very vulnerable group of people, the farmers.
The Island Special Constabulary Force (ISCF) has been given the mandate to play an active role in the Anti-Praedial Larceny Initiative. The Agricultural Produce Receipt Book System has empowered the ISCF with greater investigative capacity. With the established Agro-Environment Team equipped with trail bikes and strategically placed in every parish, they are now armed with the investigative capacity to protect legitimate owners of produce.
How to access the receipt book
The procedure for receiving an agricultural produce receipt book is as follows:
A farmer who buys and sells agricultural produce, firstly needs to be registered and verified by the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA).
The RADA representative will collect relevant information such as the type and quantity of goods accessed by the owner, the acreage of lands in use and the location of the farm.
According to the latest update taken from RADA's agri-business information system, there are 78,076 farmers who have been registered as legitimate owners of their produce.
After meeting the requirements stipulated by RADA, the farmer will then visit the JAS office islandwide to purchase a receipt book. The JAS representative will confirm that the farmer is verified, by the use of RADA's ABIS system website.
The farmer should then provide proof of identification such as a national identification or birth certificate and purchase the receipt book at a cost of J$500. The JAS representative will inscribe the farmers' registration number on the back of the receipt book and ensure that the farmer knows how to use the receipt book. The JAS representative will finally issue to the farmer, the agricultural produce receipt book and a receipt to show proof of purchase.
Let us all work together to fight this wicked cancer that costs the agricultural sector over $4billion dollars per annum.
I am, etc.,
SENATOR NORMAN GRANT J.P
President
Jamaica Agricultural Society
Parish Registration Update
| Parish | # Verified | Un-Verified | Total |
| St. James | 4,178 | 103 | 4,281 |
| Trelawny | 3,318 | 959 | 4,277 |
| Manchester | 9,054 | 1,432 | 10,486 |
| St. Andrew | 2,701 | 51 | 2,752 |
| St. Catherine | 6,689 | 512 | 7,201 |
| St. Thomas | 3,372 | 1,392 | 4,764 |
| Clarendon | 12,217 | 2,797 | 15,014 |
| Portland | 4,483 | 383 | 4,866 |
| St. Mary | 5,055 | 417 | 5,472 |
| Westmoreland | 4,377 | 953 | 5,330 |
| Hanover | 2,747 | 613 | 3,360 |
| St. Elizabeth | 8,144 | 3,954 | 12,098 |
| St. Ann | 11,741 | 1,347 | 13,088 |
| Total | 78,076 | 4,913 | 92,990 |
