The Editor, Sir:

The problem of producing enough food to feed Jamaica is one of the many exercising our minds at this time. I was very much surprised at the amount of animal feed that is reportedly imported and, in particular, chicken feed.

It is my view that we could grow all the corn we need for chicken and general use, but we have not been able to make the link between the grower and the processor.

Some people think that the government should install collection warehouses around the country to act as this link. However, I would like to see a different approach.

Corn is the easiest to grow of all the crops mentioned during this national food debate. I am not a farmer, but on my small plot around my house I grow a lot of different crops mainly on an experimental basis, and I am now on my fourth set of corn since January.

Farm store link

The link between the grower and the processor could be the farm store. Here, in St Elizabeth, I see large trucks coming in with loads of fertiliser seeds, etc, then go back empty (an unproductive journey).

Now, suppose that farm store was also the buyer of corn to supply the processor, that truck could return with a load of corn; does that make sense.

Small farmers are not going to be able on their own to fulfil the sort of contracts that food processors would need, but collectively through the farm store that will be willing to pay cash on the spot .We could reduce the import of this and other food products by a large percentage.

I am, etc.,

PHIL FOSTER

Southfield, St Elizabeth