opinion

Agriculture is a good investment in CARICOM
by Clarence E. Pilgrim

While I sat in the front row at the Guyana International conference Center in greater Georgetown, a very simple thought came to mind: irrespective of content, latitude or dispersal, no organism exists without affecting its environment.

These words being placed in the context of the regional agricultural investment forum I attended, means that the issue is not whether the investment we make today will affect the agricultural environment of tomorrow, but how much and in what ways.

Using the recently concluded forum in Guyana, as a convenient bottom-line measure of how the leadership in the Caribbean community sees its role in the present world food phenomena, it is clear that there are serious thoughts with a formulated strategy, and the intention is to have continuing action to combat the negative effects which has impacted on the cost of living.

Investment in the agriculture sector is central to the achievement of the primary objective of the CARICOM's agricultural policy.

Data have unsurprisingly shown that investments in the agricultural sector is less dynamic when compared with other sectors. This may be due in part to focus being given to other economic sectors such as tourism, etc., which has helped to create a generally unfavorable climate for even the most serious agricultural projects.

The forum was a success and, as the first initiative of its kind, which brought together a diverse cross-section of stakeholders including policy makers, investors, private entrepreneurs, farmers, technicians and others.

I found many topics on the current global and regional environments, to be relevant and helped to define and re-position the agriculture industry to be considered as possessing tremendous higher earning investment prospects.

What I believe was a critical component of the meeting was the presentations made and discussion with the banking institutions, which gave guidelines on how to create successful project proposals that would optimize their possibility of attracting financing.

While I was working within the bio-energy group, I was made pleasantly aware of some of the work being done in this area. As a matter of fact, some countries were well on the way in terms of practical applications. I presented to the forum on behalf of the group the following significant recommendations among others, in recognition of the fact that farmers --- and indeed, many others --- need to be made aware of the science and technologies available:

1. The Caribbean Community needs to create and define a regional policy with regards to the application of Bio-Energy, in the context of energy security for the region, and each country should develop national policies which are consistent with the regional policy, but meet the specific needs of the nation's national economic objectives.

2. There needs to be consistent, affordable and available training courses (at the regional and national levels) on the technologies involved in bio-energy. Recipients should include farmers, businessmen, policy makers, bankers, students etc. It is only through awareness of what exists and how it can be applied, can an appreciation and understanding be created.

It is important to note that the forum acknowledged that investments were obviously market-driven and that every effort should be made to produce micro and small-scale agro food sector projects in the most "bankable" format, so that the best possible result could be achieved.

In the end I think that the single most useful approach is that of developing the will to manage the transformation that is required.

If it is done properly, it will not only convert and capture the imagination of those who can effect change, but would create change agents who will genuinely work for the creation of a new beginning.

Ultimately this mindset change entails a shift of perception-from Agriculture being something that is full of too much sweat and toil, to a landscape of activities and aspirations to advance the needs for self-actualization.

 
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