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Agriculture…It’s All We Really Have

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Submitted by Old Onions Bag
David Estwick, Minister of Agriculture

Yes Barbados, it’s all we really have and cancould be the way forward. That is if we act NOW.  The Food index as predicted, rose last week. We are continually being told of a corn shortage in the future.  Corn is a feed all, both people and animals. Why don’t we see stockpiling of the seed and a renewed revolutionize  planting thrust in progress around the country side ? Why Why ?

We have sweet potatoes and yams. I would hope some stockpiling is going on now in times of plenty. Is this not what taking advantage of fore-knowledge is all about ? “To be fore-warned is to be fore armed.”
By now with all these warnings (for about eight months now) we are not seeing the Ministry of Agriculture engaged in the necessary action…we should be seeing  purchasing of tractors and ploughing equipment (stockpiling of spares) now they are still relatively cheap. If we are wrong.. Mr. Estwick should be advising us what is being done. The silence from him and others is deafening.

Why are we waiting for the GREAT SHORTAGE to start before we act? Why?  Is it that we don’t believe there will be a shortage? Predictive indicators are showing  and correctly …a time of shortage is coming and not very far away. Wake up Barbados…ACT NOW ! We should be planting. Agriculture is all we have and can be our saviour.

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91 responses to “Agriculture…It’s All We Really Have”

  1. Visionary Avatar
    Visionary

    Come get those fields ploughed now Mr. Minister..this could be your blessing in disguise and a FREE pass come gong day…If Barbadians see your initiative to provide food for the people……green fields filled with yams sweet potatoes, corn ,…..your profile may be given a new shot at life.

  2. Brudah-Bim Avatar
    Brudah-Bim

    **Please Sign Petition @: http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/protocal4bim/**
    This is an appeal to you constructed on behalf of the Barbadian people and the security of their economic future.

    Please forgive the sheer randomness of this letter, for I pray that it
    finds you well. Outlined is a strategy in which the government can
    implement in order revamp our country’s productivity capabilities by
    switching from a service-based economy; while keeping the cuts to
    essential sectors and welfare programs to a minimum.

    I’m urging all Bajan citizens to please examine this piece for it
    offers ways in which the government can salvage the Barbadian economy.
    _____________________________________________________

    A comprehensive measure that the government should take in order to
    vamp up our agricultural sector is to first and foremost invest money
    into a major upgrade of the country’s irrigation systems as well as its
    current infrastructure for renewable energy companies in a cost
    effective manner. Not to mention that:

    1);it would help if the
    government were to allow for the further education of skills/fields
    which could potentially enable Barbados to develop a Productive
    Agricultural Sector be more readily available in terms of access to the
    people.

    2) the government should give provision for Bajan
    students to go to China to learn engineering; or Chile and Brazil to
    learn Horticulture with a focus in Agriculture. It would also be very
    wise of our government to also encourage our students to gain an
    education/skills in the Horticultural sub-fields of Hydroponics and
    Aeroponics in a country such as Israel. Israel’s agricultural sector
    should be used as an example for Barbados as their agricultural sector
    is flourishing despite its geographical odds.

    Better yet, the
    government should recruit foreign professionals and specialists
    (particularly from the U.S. and Canada) in Hydroponics and Aeroponics to
    come to Barbados and educate Bajan farmers as well as Bajan
    entrepreneurs on the functioning of Hydroponics and Aeroponics. There
    should be a series of programs that offer courses, workshops, seminars,
    and practicums in which after completing parties would work towards
    gaining certification which qualifies them to practice
    Aeroponics/Hydroponics and Horticulture as a study/vocational field.
    Please refer to the following videos for a brief insight on the
    capabilities and benefits to which hydroponics and aeroponics can bring
    when applied to agriculture.

    -Please refer here for insight on the Horticultural sub-field of Aeorponics:

    -Please refer here for insight on the Horticultural sub-field of Hydroponics:

    *It has been demonstrated that ‘vertical farms’ are more economically
    viable and guaranteed to be sustainable with a very high yield. Thus
    making the prospects of “developing” with expansive and expensive urban
    infrastructure to be unnecessary and detrimentally redundant. Instead,
    that region should be kept as a strategic area for a more extensive
    production for the nation’s agricultural and renewable energy sectors.

    3) The government would need to subsidize the cost of hydroponic and
    aeroponic supplies for farming co-ops, farm owners, farmers, and even
    gardeners. The government should also look into making such
    accommodations for domestic brand alternative energy companies (ie.
    solar power companies native to Barbados) as well through subsidizing
    the resources needed in order for renewable energy companies to be able
    to supply sufficient energy demands for controlled-environment
    agricultural facilities (ie. green houses) such as solar panels or wind
    turbines to power green houses .

    4) It should also be of
    interest to the government to look into the further expanding their
    prospects to maximizing economically feasible possibilities through the
    use of not only through cash and food crops (ie. Sugarcane being
    harvested for both sugar and ethanol fuel); but for commodity crops as
    well (such as Hemp for one, and cotton). It would also be in our
    interest if the government strategically encouraged the production of
    Hemp due to it’s many capabilities and our current capacity to utilize
    the properties of hemp commercially; potentially spurring an industry
    for textiles, food products, plastics, soaps, and possibly even Fuel.

    5) It is MOST HIGHLY ADVISED that the government throw funds for
    investment in collective co-ops that are operated and owned by members
    of particular communities involved in agriculture; thus designating them
    as ‘agricultural/aquaculture communes’. The government should also give
    preferential accommodations to such entities as opposed to corporatized
    agribusinesses for the government may reserve the ability to hold
    shares in particular co-operative businesses as a sponsor. The
    government is advised to provide such co-op entities with the
    advantageous ability and resources to compete in the domestic market as
    opposed to placing importance on imports.

    6) The government
    should give preferential treatment to agricultural products produced
    domestically (ie. subsidize the prices of domestic products as opposed
    to foreign imports). The government should also continue in being HIGHLY
    AGGRESSIVE in the “Buy Bajan” campaign by extending it to the nation’s
    agricultural sector as well as her manufacturing sector.

    7)
    Encourage the further institutionalization of education in Horticulture
    with a particular focus in the field of Agriculture WITHIN Barbados’
    education system. The government should shift the current discourse when
    regarding the agricultural sector to students (especially when young)
    particularly in Primary and Secondary schools to consider agriculture as
    a possible profession.

    The government should do so by
    marketing such professions as positions that are highly rewarding
    economically due to the fact that agricultural markets are projected to
    especially soar in value due to the ever-growing global food scarcity.
    By doing so, Barbados would be shifting her dependence from foreign
    markets which translates to feeding its population not through imports,
    but domestic products. The government should also be focused emphasizing
    education in the sciences and mathematics with in Primary and Secondary
    educations to especially further fuel the agricultural sector.

    [8)]
    Strategically enter the “Green Economy” through the extensive education
    and use of Horticulture and the already well-equipped alternative
    energy/fuel/resource companies.

    ***By doing so, the government
    would essentially be taking preemptive measures that will ensure not
    only the nation’s food security; but also it would fundamentally
    safeguard our ability to have an upper-hand in competing with other
    markets in our agricultural sector. However, Barbados must abstain from
    corporatism in her agriculture sector and she MUST REFRAIN FROM the
    production of G.M.O.’s and ban all importation of American G.M.O. (and
    possible all American produce) on the grounds that scientists around the
    world are beginning to detect a link to Genetically modified foods and
    the elevated contraction rates of terminal illnesses (ie. cancer).
    Essentially, scientists still have yet to determine the full effects of
    the consumption of G.M.O.’s and how they impact the human body’s health.

    -All of this can ensure us a more competitive and resilient Bajan
    economy that would potentially be highly equipped to become a major
    regional (if not global) player in the markets.***

    *****************************************************************************************

    POSSIBLE SOURCES OF FUNDING THE LAUNCH OF SUCH A STRATEGY

    It has of course been noted that much worry would surround the government’s
    ability to accrue the sufficient amount of credit in order to fund such a
    plan. However, it must be noted that there are indeed a few options
    which the government could vie for in order to fund such a move.

    [A] For one, it has been noted that there is a good bit of development
    projects proposed and are in the process of being commenced within
    Barbados currently. Much of these projects are focused on
    ‘infrastructure’ in order to attract foreign and local private
    investors. By ‘infrastucture’, I am referring to certain real estate
    projects that are alleged to bring in revenue. However it would be in
    the best interest of the government to use the budget for projects such
    as the ‘Four Seasons’, The proposal for the construction of a new
    residential complex facilities for the bureaucrats of the Barbados Water
    Authority. And instead of making a squalor out of our budget and
    recklessly spending over $800 million on the construction of a new
    hospital facility, the government should prioritize that to the much
    needed upgrade of QEH (Queen Elizabeth Hospital) by maximizing its infrastructural capabilities
    through renovation and refurbishment plans; which would be much cheaper
    for us as opposed to building a new facility.

    The government
    can use the funds for the BWA’s (Barbados Water Authority) new developmental construction plans to
    refurbish and renovate old buildings for the BWA instead of building a
    new complex, which is more costly. The government can also allocate
    funds from the four seasons program and use that credit to support such a
    revamping of our agricultural sector.

    [B] A second suggestion
    would be that the government has the option of allocating the necessary
    funds to support such a major revamping from Barbados’ national
    reserves (ie HARD ASSETS, gold, silver,platinum, etc). Not to mention
    that indeed it would be highly expensive to commercialize Barbados’
    hydroponic capabilities, however it is definitely FEASIBLE due to
    Barbados’ small population size. Our country’s limited space in
    land-size necessitates such a move to ensure self sufficiency.

    Again, I stress that there must be an emphasis on collective
    agricultural co-op business entities that are private. The government
    can ensure its revenue gain from these entities by reserving the right
    to hold a small share in their stocks (however it would be wise if the
    government owned shares in a small series of agricultural/aquaculture
    communes). This runs the risk of the government needing to employ
    budgetary cuts to a few sectors, though it must be stressed that the
    cuts would only be in the short-term; for the economy will most
    certainly benefit in gains in the long-term for the nation’s
    productivity will compensate for the deficits.

    [C] A third and
    least advisable option is the continuation of tax increases in order to
    accrue the appropriate revenues. That, along with strenuous measures
    that the government would need to implement such as cuts to both
    unnecessary projects and programs as well as affecting some (if not all)
    essential welfare government initiatives. Although it would be
    short-term, it would take a longer time for the economy to rebound
    should the government decide to not follow through with option [B];
    though it’d still be temporary. Not to mention that it could take longer
    to allocate such funds through just a series of taxes alone, which
    would otherwise put the average Bajan citizen at an aggravating
    disadvantage.

    [+] Should the government decide to employ either
    of these tactics, it is strongly advised that the government
    AGGRESSIVELY PROPAGATE the “Buy Bajan” campaign, Particularly when it
    comes to meat and produce domestically produced in Barbados. This would
    encourage Barbadians to purchase local goods and would help to further
    stimulate the agricultural sector, creating new positions. Followed by
    the the renewable energy industry, which could mutually benefit from the
    commercialization of Barbados’ newly established “Controlled
    Environment based Agriculture Sector”. Not to mention that Bajan
    citizens will come to realization that their costs of living would
    substantially decrease if they were to invest more into domestic
    products as opposed to imports.

    -Barbados is currently in a
    HIGHLY VULNERABLE predicament because of her dependence on other
    countries’ exports. Her inability to diversify and complete revamping of
    Key sectors such as manufacturing and agriculture has CRIPPLED
    Barbados’ ability to be self sufficient as well as her ability to
    compete in the international market (whether regional or global).

    -It has been proven time and time again that prudent measures
    implemented by successful economies that are now key regional/global
    players took measures that indeed equated to short-falls in the
    temporary, but most certainly ensured gains to their benefit in the
    (not-so-distant) long run.

    -As mentioned before, to continue to
    rely on imports equates to Barbados being crippled and hindering her
    ability to be self sufficient in producing domestic products as well as
    being internationally competitive as a market. Barbados would forever be
    at the mercy of other countries should it were to rely on other
    countries’ land for agricultural production due to the fact that it
    would be subject to foreign tariffs, taxes, and customs. Hydroponics and
    Aeroponics are the most viable options to our conundrum, and can be
    solved by allocating funds for both agriculture and renewable energy
    supplies on community levels as opposed to a centralized system for the
    nation.

    ********************************************************************************************
    FINAL ASSESSMENT & SIMPLIFIED PRESCRIPTION

    It has been assessed that The government of Barbados must follow these
    strategies seriously in order to sufficiently safeguard a prosperous and
    most of all “INDEPENDENT & SELF SUFFICIENT” future for our national
    economy on a preemptive scale.

    The analysis is detailed in
    that it offers clear options as to how the government can employ
    strategic, preemptive, and tactful in establishing a field for our
    domestic markets to flourish.

    Not to mention that it would be
    in the best interest of Barbados to establish economic trading unions
    through diplomatic ties with other nations within the Caribbean, Central
    as well as South America, and even Africa (for African economies are
    ever more becoming rapidly developing economies). The very fact that
    Barbados is so strategically located within the Atlantic Ocean bordered
    by multiple regions; the government should be manipulating that by being
    active in establishing an extensive network of beneficial trade and
    commerce with countries in all of the aforementioned regions.

    Therefore, it should be stressed to the government that as it persists
    in being slow in addressing Barbados’ crisis of “Food Security &
    Productivity”, time is quickly running out as our competitors/neighbours
    are fast forging ties with other economies around the globe. Needless
    to say, this will equate to our available options to dry up and will
    leave Barbados in a position in which her economy, government, and
    indeed her citizens will forever be subject to subservience by an
    economic-hegemonic power (ie. U.S., U.K., Canada).

    The
    suggested strategy would install a system of Self-Sufficiency,
    Productivity, and Preemptive thinking. I pray that the Ministers of
    Agriculture as well as the members of PEP and the greater parliament
    would heed this and motion for its implementation.

    Should
    Barbados continue with this trend of complete economic stagnation, then
    it would be the citizens that the government would have to answer to in
    trying to provide an explanation as to why the government lagged in
    appropriately prioritizing the nation’s expenditures to key sectors such
    as Agriculture and Manufacturing.

    It must be stressed to the
    ministers and other politicians within the Barbadian parliament that
    they are accountable to the Bajan people. Do not sell Barbados short by
    failing to appropriately prioritize our expenditures to where it is
    necessary. For if the government fails, it will be the people that the
    entire government would have to answer to. Not DLP or the BLP alone, but
    all parties that have sworn to their duties as our nation’s elected
    representatives. Do not sell Bajans short on our beloved Barbados! WE
    MUST ACT NOW!

  3. Rosemary Parkinson Avatar
    Rosemary Parkinson

    Well, well, well……what can I say? Except let us please stockpile organic clean and healthy food. No sense stockpiling what gine kill us! So for those who might just happen to take a little peek at this site…perhaps you might want to ensure that we do what thousands all over the world are doing, looking closely at what is harming our bodies…..let us immediately stop the use of Monsanto’s Round Up, all their pesticides and their GMO seeds. Let us clean up our soil, our water table and all our foods so that we can also clean up our health. Sign this petition now before it is too late.

    https://www.change.org/petitions/genetically-modified-foods-gmo

  4. Rosemary Parkinson Avatar
    Rosemary Parkinson

    http://wakeup-world.com/2012/02/20/new-research-gmo-food-far-worse-than-we-think/

  5. Rosemary Parkinson Avatar
    Rosemary Parkinson

    http://wakeup-world.com/2011/12/16/monsantos-new-agent-orange-are-you-eating-breathing-drinking-it/

  6. Rosemary Parkinson Avatar
    Rosemary Parkinson

    And I rest my case with this:

    http://www.readersupportednews.org/news-section2/312-16/9984-willie-nelson-and-300000-other-activists-sue-monsanto

  7. Optimum Avatar
    Optimum

    @Old Onion Bags
    I must commend you for making a contribution which I can actually agree with in part. It seems that you were fortunate to have an epiphanic experience, which I imagine is probably rare for you.

    Yes we can do more with agriculture and restore it to an actual productive industry in Barbados. Not just based on sugar production but greater focus needs to be placed on non-sugar crops such as sweet potatoes, yams, cassava, pumpkins etc. We cannot engage in a practice where we sell our land so that it can fetch its highest economic value.

    We also need to get back into the practice of having our own kitchen gardens. We need to move away from the mindset that you need acres of land to be involved in crop cultivation. We can make use of small patches around our homes to plant cassava and some cash crops such as lettuce, cabbage, tomatoes etc which can be used to to augment our Sunday meals and help to reduce our expenses.

    We can also grow more fruits as well. The Ministry of Agriculture offers varieties of dwarf fruit trees which bear through out the year.

  8. old onion bags Avatar
    old onion bags

    What about the CORN.?..I understand seed is getting in short supply, we need some corn seed urgently…..a few seed can produce many…but he need the right variety

    @ Rosemary hydro ponics and the high fa lute can come later WE NEED seed to start and later we can get scientific.. no digress

  9. Brudah-Bim Avatar
    Brudah-Bim

    @OOB, now you’re talking some sense. We indeed need to be strategic about this move and fast, and I fully agree with u OBB. Shall I add “Seed Saving Initiative” to my petition as well?

    Matter of fact, Consider it done!

  10. Rosemary Parkinson Avatar
    Rosemary Parkinson

    I have never said anything about hydroponics and the high ‘falute’ Mr. Old Onion Bags….Bruddah Bim is the one!

    I merely want to see clean food growing and eff you doan know what dat means….it means we food without GMO (we have genetically modified foods – foods that the seeds have pesticides already imbedded in them – already growing – have GMO corn in St. John and St. George – this is NOT GOOD); and it also means our animals without growth hormones and antibiotics and our soil without the nasty pesticides from Monsanto…and perhaps you need to take the time Onion to read the links I have put up re all of the above and inform yourself.

    As I said it makes no sense to stockpile food willy-nilly dat will kill us….WE WANT ORGANIC FOOD STOCKPILED….WE SHOULD WANT ORGANIC AGRICULTURE. IT IS SIMPLY WHAT OUR FOREFATHER GREW BEFORE THOSE WHO THOUGHT THEY WERE HELPING US WITH DDT AND NOW ROUNDUP AND OTHER PESTICIDES, USED TO DO. BACKYARD HEALTHY GARDENING WITHOUT THE KILLING MACHINES OF SPRAYS.

    Clean normal foods. Those people who ate that food are now over 100 years old….people of today are dying off early at an alarming rate and food has been pinpointed as one of the reasons – diabetes, heart diseases and cancer.

    So PLEASE inform yourself dear Bag of Old on what I specifically am going for….people here do not seem to understand that CLEAN is very, very important before we begin to even think of expanding agriculture using all the technology available to us…whether hydroponics, whether in stacks of concrete buildings, whether on top of high rises…it is just getting back to what is healthy….the video in the petition explains it all in layman terms….but to make it easier for ya…I am posting the link here…it tells the story in pictures, caricatures and therefore very very simple. So do watch it. This is what our Ministry of Agriculture should be pushing….I know they know all about it…so why not????? Don’t they want to also reduce the health bill…we hear all about that but nothing real being looked at as to the cause of the high health bill and putting a stop to it. Does not take a rocket scientist Old Onion….so freshen up yuself and look at this…you will feel like a young sweet onion if you do…..

  11. old onion bags Avatar
    old onion bags

    @ Optimum
    It seems that you were fortunate to have an epiphanic experience, which I imagine is probably rare for you.

    Rare ? you take tis to the rear.. kis an kis …. and when ya dun tell Mr.Physical Deficit that is time he do something in the Min of Agriculture before Mac & Co kick he out..lol As fa wuk fa wuk..he too

  12. Rosemary Parkinson Avatar
    Rosemary Parkinson

    …and yes! I commend you for starting this blog re agriculture…you surprised me I must say….glad to see someone else concerned about our food insecurity….but ah begging once more….read the links I gave you so that we can have clean and meaningful agriculture…and general farming….bless!

  13. Clone Avatar
    Clone

    Wuh loss David you could have put Bruddah Bim comment as the article and put old
    onions as a comment.
    Old Onions that is all you got for agriculture.

    There are two shade house farming units in Barbados, one in Strong Hope St. Thomas and the other in Brighton St. George that dominates the vegetable market in Barbados. That is the way we have to go with our shrinking land mass to the highest bidder.
    Onions, Corn is not a sustainable crop for Barbados. Do your research and come up with a better article.

  14. old onion bags Avatar
    old onion bags

    Rosie baby…(kid gloves on )..at this stage food is food organic or otherwise..Don’t you understand anything is better than nothing..The eminent shortage is FOR REAL…no time for inorganic dressing.We got about 3 years by conservative estimates..

  15. Rosemary Parkinson Avatar
    Rosemary Parkinson

    And just one more little link to push the fact that we have GMo food on this island and it is not all that we think it is…it is in fact big yields of poison:

    http://www.activistpost.com/2012/02/new-research-gmo-food-far-worse-than-we.html

  16. old onion bags Avatar
    old onion bags

    @ Clone
    I see you is D jester here tonight but, is ok….This post is really to serious to silly willy you….if you ain’t got nothing worth while to contribute (as is usual)…….Do like F ..hush.

  17. Brudah-Bim Avatar
    Brudah-Bim

    @ OOB
    Three years is more than enough time for the government to initaiate a complete overhaul in ORGANIC seed stocking. We could simply sell off our GMOs or destroy them, but there needs to be a push to Save ORGANIC seeds NOW!

  18. Brudah-Bim Avatar
    Brudah-Bim

    @ Sister Rosemary

    I agree with you in totality. We need to act promptly by pushing aggressively for these demands!

  19. old onion bags Avatar
    old onion bags

    @ Brudda Bim
    hree years is more than enough time for the government to initaiate a complete overhaul

    No SIR….NEVER….3 yrs to compile a seed bank nah…we may not have 3 yrs.. and like I told Rose we talking ordinary seed at this 11th Hour. Frig ORGANIC

  20. old onion bags Avatar
    old onion bags

    @clone
    Corn is not a sustainable crop for Barbados

    Educate me why ?

  21. islandgal246 Avatar
    islandgal246

    Very interesting site for you peoples.

    http://rastaseed.wordpress.com/

  22. Rosemary Parkinson Avatar
    Rosemary Parkinson

    @Old Onion Bags….(gloves on boy!)….peel off de ol’ skin and get to the crying part…’cause dat is what will happen if we continue to grow GMO foods, feed our farm animals with growth hormones, and use Monsanto RoundUp… and you begin to see your loved ones six feet under! Not even a whiff of fresh onion will shake dem up to life!

    So…. take stock of what you say and bag it!!

    We can stockpile organic normal seeds….and while we growing food and stockpiling over the next 3 years…we can at least start by cleaning up the soil whilst we do it. And the water we drink. And the air we breathe. And the sea we depend on for fish and a likkle Saturduh sea bath without scabies.

    I know it takes a long time to clean up soil that has been messed with for years…and I know that our water and seas that have been comprised will also take awhile….but we have to start and starting should happen NOW.

    We love to follow everything the US doing…you ent see dat Willie Nelson and 300,000 activists suing Monsanto? You ent hear dat even Monsanto employees doan eat GMO foods? Hello?????

    BAN MONSANTO AND ITS GMO SEEDS, PESTICIDES, AND IN PARTICULAR ROUNDUP IMMEDIATELY….AND GROW MORE FOODS AND YES! START STOCKPILING.

    You ready to grow organic onions and fill your bag yet Old Onion Bag?? Muah! xxoo 🙂

  23. Hants Avatar
    Hants

    @old onion bags

    Good thinking. The time could come when Barbados may have trouble importing food because the volume buyers in other countries will get their supply first.

    1 supermarket chain in Toronto buys more fruit and vegetables that Barbados.

    People need to treat the production of food crops seriously.

  24. Brudah-Bim Avatar
    Brudah-Bim

    Did You all read the Nation News today?

    The government is responding to the onslaught of the rising cost of living by, YOU GUESSED IT, Hiring another foreign private retailer to come upon Bim’s shores to set up shop.

    Apparently the name of the outlet will be “Cost-U-Less” and is an American brand. I wouldn’t be surprised if it were a subsidiary of Wal-mart or one of those evil large discount stores Americans love to trade their souls in for.

    The venue is already declaring that it will guarantee “lower” prices on food and other products. You can pretty much say that is code for a “HIGHER” amount of GMOs and food of simply poor quality that are going to be stacked up on the shelves of Bim.

    Say hello to subsidized GMOs and Partially rotted foods and bye-bye to our prospects in establishing the nation’s food security.

    Here’s the article: http://www.nationnews.com/articles/view/better-prices/

    What absolute BULLOCKS!!

  25. David Avatar
    David

    BU broke the news about Cost U Less coming back in 2008, it has taken a while.

    bajan.wordpress.com/2008/07/16/cost-u-less-maybe-coming-to-barbados/

  26. Brudah-Bim Avatar
    Brudah-Bim

    ^^ FYI, construction has already started in Welchs, St. Thomas and is expected to open around Christmas time. Yet another opportunity lost for the government to SALVAGE our nation’s agriculture sector and to Protect her land.

    GOOD JOB PARLIAMENT! YOU’VE MANAGED TO FAIL BAJANS, YET AGAIN!!!

  27. Brudah-Bim Avatar
    Brudah-Bim

    @ David (B.U.)

    Supposedly it was temporarily shelved after PM David Thompson unexpectedly bit de boot.

    P.S. I’m starting to think that Bajans are too fond of the name ‘David’, nuh? (I’m only teasing, lol)

  28. old onion bags Avatar
    old onion bags

    With the advent of Cost -U -Less, PLANT PLANT PLANT.. Mr.MINISTER..we can be assured of a sustainable fresh frozen good canned vegetable market…..make use of the opportunity Barbados !

  29. ac Avatar
    ac

    Cost U Less bajans answer for Lower Food Prices?

  30. Rosemary Parkinson Avatar
    Rosemary Parkinson

    Cost U Less in prices….Cost U More in health! Good one Barbados. And guess what? The same as Price Smart that does not have one smart price, the aisles will be full of shoppers. If we were smart we would boycott both these cost you more in health places….but we ent! Can’t even sign a petition asking government to look into the banning of GMO foods and Monsanto’s killer pesticides…..oh! what joy…now I know that we for sure love a funeral……*tears*.

    Are we going to stand by and just allow the death of our people? Are we? Sing the dyamned petition…even if it does nothing, at least we can go down saying we raas tried!!! *vexed to the hilt*.

    https://www.change.org/petitions/genetically-modified-foods-gmo

  31. readydone Avatar
    readydone

    The first thing that needs to be done is to get Bajans to think growing food is cool. Growing food is not a part of the bajan culture. An unintended back lash from linking it to slavery to get persons to move to office jobs in the 60’s no one has looked back seince.
    proof? I dear say 100 percent of agricultural activist in Barbados are not bajan.
    If push comes to shove and we really need people to plant, tell them they can plant a small amount of MJ if they produce a large amount of food. You’re sure to get a thriving AG industry in no time.
    In the mean time I am going to water my quinoa.
    Is there a seed exchange in Barbados? I got me 1000s of verities from bakercreek.com sitting in a bucket. (Gave me hell to get through customs to)

  32. Rosemary Parkinson Avatar
    Rosemary Parkinson

    @readydone….a government that claims they are interested in agriculture…I met a young farmer of herbs…has all his papers in order as a farmer….ordered seeds from foreign for different legal herbs….they arrived through the post and customs held them for months….I mean months…although he produced all his paperwork…dem tell him he had to pay duty although he is supposed to be able to bring them in duty free…and the duty was three times the cost of the seeds!! Oh! Yes! You go Ministry of Agriculture….

    Now re the above….why not bring in the Guyanese (or any other Caribbean person) to work on farm projects….like how Bajans go to Canada on farm projects but will not be caught dead here in their own land with a hoe in their hand? I know the Guyanese (and perhaps other Caribbean people) would love this. And it can easily be done. The best produce in the market here comes from Guyanese who have been living here with their papers for years!!

    I should be working with the Ministry….why are they so ineffective when I can sit at home and see the problems and the solutions so easily…..hmmmm…..instead I bet they would prefer to shut me up!

    By the way they are succeeding…I am beginning to realize that as a people we do not care about our land, our water, our foods, our health…nutting….is de undertaker we love most….a chance to dress up….cry and talk over the dead and how much we loved her/him when he/her was alive and then later….drink ’nuff rum and eat ’nuff food after at the expense of the one we have just buried. You gotta love we!! And I am stressing about things I cannot change. Bless.

  33. ac Avatar
    ac

    Tje govt. hands are tied when it comes to price gouging man lower would cost the taxpayers to police the industries which continue this practice so the only answer is a competive industry which offers prices at a lower rate which in turn would force business which offer prices at high prices to follow suit. eventually prices would stabilise giving the consumer a greater benefit and drastically reduce the price gouging effect.

  34. ac Avatar
    ac

    Asking people to go back to traditional farmingis a good idea in theory but in reality it can only be done on a small scale. on a larger scale Big farming has to be inclusive to meet the needs of the world population which has grown and will continue slowing down the pace at which the food is produce would lead to world hunger already over5million people die yearly because of lack of food and that uincludes chilfren.

  35. readydone Avatar
    readydone

    @ Rosemary Parkinson we need to pick a fight that we can win and push for it. Reducing the length of time it takes to get seeds and rebates sounds like a good place to start. Trying to fight the whole system on my own is getting tiring and I know you and a lot of other people out there would help, making the job all that easier but we should pick one fight and work at that till it becomes a reality. I mentioned seeds and rebates because I experienced that first hand. They are other fights we can fight that maybe more practical. But we got to start somewhere. You wid me?

  36. readydone Avatar
    readydone

    I think farms don’t need to be big to make money, if we can show it is possible for a one person to make 500 a week that would go a long way towards converting some of the people in Barbados. Then there is access to land, lots of bajan farmers want to grow food but don’t have the land.

    But the biggest kicker is thieving people. We need to start renting out cameras and catching crop thieves and illegal dumpers and make them do community service cleaning Bridgetown.
    lol

  37. readydone Avatar
    readydone

    do any off you know how much land it would take to feed barbados?

  38. Ras Jahaziel Avatar
    Ras Jahaziel

    Greetings to you concerned citizens of Barbados. I just started to look through this post, and as one who has not been to Barbados for a while my memory may need some updating.

    Agriculture has always been my calling. Planted land in St Thomas mainly, but we (the early Rastas) used to rent land that still belonged to the old folks there.

    This is land that was known as RAB LAND, sloping land on the side of gullies that the plantation considered useless. THEY allowed faithful plantation laborers to be able plant a few things in the spare time when they were not working for the plantation.

    One had to rely on rain to irrigate these plots of land and fight with the monkies to get anything that was other than a yam. But these plots of land were few, and as far as I can remember most Bajans lived then in crowded tenantries like Eagle Hall, Bank Hall, etc.

    I recall a time when COW WILLIAMS took over the land that we were renting and we had to scatter and leave all our beautiful gardens behind.
    I remembr a day when I went back there hunting for some mangoes in the bush and came face to face with him and his bodyguard and was told GET OFF MY LAND.

    SO I REACHED THE CONCLUSION THAT MOST BAJANS ARE LANDLESS, and most of the proper agricultural land belonged to a few white boys who had inherited the plantations.

    So please tell I, HAVE THINGS CHANGED? Is land now available to the Black slave descendents whose foreparents worked the land to make the white boy rich? Can the Black slave descendent afford to buy a piece of agricultural land nowadays?

    I need that kind of information before I can make an input about this agriculture thing.

  39. Brudah-Bim Avatar
    Brudah-Bim

    @ readydone
    “do any off you know how much land it would take to feed barbados?”

    If You read my petition, You would see how I included that Barbados doesn’t need land to have a thriving agricultural sector. Got to the top of the page and look at the videos in the petition, both are very brief. That answer’s your question right there.

    Hydroponics, Aeroponics, and Aquaponics is the answer.

  40. Rosemary Parkinson Avatar
    Rosemary Parkinson

    @readydone…I am with you…but I am also tired. When I look at a simple petition where you doan even have to work in the hot sun to sign, and I see 140 interested people (most of them from abroad), it breaks my heart. I have never said that farms have to be large or small….they can be all and more. I have never said that everyone living on the island should be a farmer…I have said that perhaps everyone who builds a house should be forced by law to put up at least one fruit tree, and I still stand by dat! And I still stand with before we think of planting one more blade of grass, we should do it the organic way. And the time to do organic is now. How it is done, and wey it done….makes no difference to me. I do agree that we should look closely at food security because the signs are obvious and we have to do something…but I want good clean food security. Why would I want to hoard GMO seeds or plant GMO foods or use RoundUp when I know it gine kill me anyhow….best to die of starvation than riddled with cancer. I personally find death boring and the thought of dying slowly not exactly a happy ending….or for that matter I rather go down partying with me body full of alcohol and drugs of any kind feeling euphoric and sweet with a big smile on me face and music in me ears!

    So if you are with me on ‘clean’ food, then I am with you on whatever! Say the word and I will sign a petition, I will march and I will shout…but I want clean organic food – from the meat I eat to the veggies and provisions I buy…simple tings. And not budging from that position.

  41. Brudah-Bim Avatar
    Brudah-Bim

    @ Sister Rosemary

    I agree with everything Sister Rosemary has said. Sadly, the petition that I started has been getting absolutely NO NOTICE FROM ANY ONE HERE ON B.U. or anywhere for that matter.

    I have repeatedly submitted it everywhere but to no avail. I have tried to gather awareness but it has only fallen on deaf ears. Bajans are too concerned with other things and rather focus on keeping up with appearances as opposed to keeping up with politics and “Hard Economics”.

    I’m beginning to think that Bajans would rather live in a false sense of bliss rather than face the facts and WORK to plan ahead. Otherwise there would have already been recognition and notice of my Petition (as I have sent them to all Bajan News outlets and blogs) and still, No one even bothers to Click de Frigging Link and just simply type in their names (which takes seconds to complete, not so?).

    I believe that the psyche of the average Bajan is one that has been suppressed and contorted to think only one way, or rather Just follow the will of the government, and don’t even bother to ask questions…

    The point is, Barbados has been emasculated as a nation ever since our establishment a colony and the the subsequent commonwealth. Bajans are WEAK in the mind, which is why we allow foreigners to come up to our shores and make huge shares of profit at the expense of the quality of life and economic stability of the Bajan people.

    If I am wrong, Bajans would prove otherwise, however I wouldn’t rely on anyone to fart on a piece of cotton for dem to gih’ meh tuh smell; for we all know that the BAJANS ARE TOO LAZY TO EVEN STAND UP FOR THE PROTECTION OF THEIR RIGHTS!

    Rather, they want to be fed on the Ludicrous notion that Barbados “cannot feed itself” and that “tourism & offshore Banking is the sole viable options” for ensured development for the nation.

    How is it that MALTA, a smaller country than Barbados in square miles yet their population is more than doubled compared to Bim’s is highly successful and productive? TTheir agriculture sector is THRIVING and it is virtually all MAltese and the nation measures 121 Square miles???!!!

    This is absurd!!! THere is no excuse as to why Barbados is in the perdicament that she is in right now that the government can provide and Bajans are just selling themselves short by just feeding on their lies.

    THat said, I have no sympathy for Bajans, because they wishto to be blinded rather than face the Frigging truth!!

  42. old onion bags Avatar
    old onion bags

    @ Brudda Bim
    This is absurd!!! THere is no excuse as to why Barbados is in the perdicament that she is in right now that the government can provide and Bajans are just selling themselves short by just feeding on their lies.

    The problem is we are so bamboozaled recovering from this onslaught of taxation..we can’t think straight….it tough keeping the home going farther getting involved in petitions and the like (canada)..its a fight just getting food on the table.
    Truth is we need a new administration and direction.
    Seems like you are an overseas bajan or you would understand these things.

  43. old onion bags Avatar
    old onion bags

    Brudda bim
    Yo bro ..tried to sign your petition but to no avail.. a blank white page…chk it out Brudds

  44. Brudah-Bim Avatar
    Brudah-Bim

    @ Everyone
    Wake up Barbados! For de MP’s (Magicians of Parliament) are jointly brewing up a toxic concoction out of the nation’s fabric in their cauldron to which they deem “Parliament”.

    So far, the nation’s integrity has been muddled in degradation by he North American and European corporate fat cats.

    Warning people, they have made a cockery out of the nation for the past three decades. It is almost time again in which they will re-colonize Barbados with their foreign corporations. Bajans refuse to realize that our economy is almost an exact replica of the British mercantile system they established for Bim’s economy when she was Britain’s colony.

    Only more puppeteers have joined in.

  45. Brudah-Bim Avatar
    Brudah-Bim

    @ OOB

    I see where the problem is. Here’s the link: http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/protocal4bim/

  46. Rosemary Parkinson Avatar
    Rosemary Parkinson

    Buddah-Bim…today is one day I totally agree with you. I too am in a despair moment. Who knows? Tomorrow the petition BU put out re banning Monsanto and its GMOs may suddenly be filled with those interested in more than just a funeral. And perhaps then I shall come out of the doldrums I feel today.

    No wonder we are so easily taken for a ride. Our reputation must be a worldwide one!

    Ah well! I was angry this morning for many reasons….mostly to do with why am I still here ’cause that is actually what a real Bajan would tell ya “eff you doan like it, why you still hey?” and I beginning to think they are totally right. As my father used to say “we shall see as the blind man said” and so we shall. I thought I was here ’cause I love this island like grass love rain, and because I want to make a difference and see it flourish not go down…I want to see my people happy, healthy…our children without addled brains, and asthma…our friends not dying of cancer but living so long we can rock in our chairs and chat ’till an elderly death do us part…what can I say….I thought I would be joined by the thousands that would like to see clearly again but a signature on a petition is too much. One hundred and forty people and most of them visitors to the island. Shameful!!!

    Perhaps a good cup of Jamaican organic coffee will make me feel better topped with organic almond/coconut milk (no dairy for me ’cause ‘it’ ent real and I am not in the mood to drive to St. George and anyhow the lady there does sell out her fresh-from-the-cow-milk that her elderly father has been drinking since he was a child without the necessity of ‘pasturization’, by 10 a.m.). I shall watch a couple of movies until I fall asleep and tomorrow is another day. I am so depleted cannot even think of writing anything nice in my book on Barbados. Sad eh?

  47. millertheanunnaki Avatar
    millertheanunnaki

    @Brudah-Bim | February 22, 2012 at 3:34 P
    “How is it that MALTA, a smaller country than Barbados in square miles yet their population is more than doubled compared to Bim’s is highly successful and productive? TTheir agriculture sector is THRIVING and it is virtually all MAltese and the nation measures 121 Square miles???!!! ”

    “If I am wrong, Bajans would prove otherwise, however I wouldn’t rely on anyone to fart on a piece of cotton for dem to gih’ meh tuh smell; for we all know that the BAJANS ARE TOO LAZY TO EVEN STAND UP FOR THE PROTECTION OF THEIR RIGHTS!”

    Barbados has a very large segment of the population of West African descent with a tradition of enslavement and being told what to do by other races. Have you taken this cultural quirk of a plantation mentality into consideration given the lethargic reaction and indifference to your appeal?
    In their eyes you “is just one ah we”.

    I warned you but you are catching on slowly but surely.

    I like that piece about “farting on a piece of cotton to smell”. Sounds like a saying from the Mississippi or Georgia.

  48. Brudah-Bim Avatar
    Brudah-Bim

    @ millertheanunnaki
    “Barbados has a very large segment of the population of West African descent with a tradition of enslavement and being told what to do by other races.”

    And Malta has been the colony of dozens of empires throughout its thousands of years of history. Throughout their millennial history they have been raped and pillaged.. Only recently was Malta allowed to gain its freedom

    Mind You that Bajans descend from AFRICAN EMPIRES that later became corrupted by the greed of the royals and looked for ways to sell African bodies en-masse for profit. Most of these African Civilizations have histories that span thousands of years farther back than Malta.

    As for de cotton phrase, Dat come from we too. My Great Gramps (may god keep him well) was the son of slaves and he would speak of harvesting cotton as well as sugar cane. Gran’ pops used to say it when he was outraged, and now is the time which calls for it.

  49. Brudah-Bim Avatar
    Brudah-Bim

    @ Sister Rosemary,

    Thank you so much for signing my Petition. Your comment has truth on so many levels.

    Now I am asking you to help spread the word about this petition, and to have people read it so that they would come on board. This goes to all my signators, I am looking for Bajan citizens to sign this Protocol.

  50. islandgal246 Avatar
    islandgal246

    Wunna don’t realize that the biggest PESTS we have are in the Ministry of Agriculture!

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