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In consequence of the new international trade and economic
arrangements our agricultural enterprises will have to face
stiffer external competition and operate in a less assured
domestic market environment.
We will
continue to build a vibrant and dynamic agricultural sector,
comprising largely small and medium sized market-driven agro-business
enterprises; focused on maintaining an adequate level of food
security. This will involve the efficient use of land and
appropriate technologies, ably supported by
an effective marketing system.
THE
SUGAR INDUSTRY
The challenge
of the European Sugar Protocol and the “Everything But
Arms” initiative requires a fundamental restructuring
of our sugar industry.
We
will:
- Support
the restructuring of the sugar industry at the factory level
by replacing three antiquated factories with one modern
factory.
- Maintain
financial support to BADMC, price support to independent
growers and the Cane Replanting Scheme, until the new sugar
programme takes effect.
- Diversify
into greater valueadded products and services for domestic
and international consumption:
- Look
to a future in which we sell Barbadian sugar as a branded
product
- Implement
programmes and support private initiatives to strengthen
the linkage between sugar cane and tourism.
THE
COTTON INDUSTRY
The BLP
considers that the development of an integrated cotton industry
should be seen as the best way of diversifying the sector
around sugar.
We
will:
- Establish
a private sector led, vertically integrated, sustainable
Barbados cotton industry producing
exclusively 100% West Indian Sea Island Cotton based products
and services to be marketed globally.
- Continue
to assist the West Indian Sea Island Cotton Association
(WISICA) to establish its right to its trademark, whilst
at the same time facilitating the transformation of that
organisation into a
contemporary corporate structure.
THE
PIG INDUSTRY
There
is a strong and growing demand for pork products. Revitalisation
of the pork industry will be a high priority for a BLP administration
and we will increase pork production to 3.0 million kilograms
by the end of 2008.
POULTRY
INDUSTRY
Poultry
is now the largest agricultural industry in Barbados. The
industry has an estimated total annual turnover of $128 million,
with a capital investment of approximately $100 million. The
industry supports more than 400 farmers and provides more
than 80% of the total poultry consumed in Barbados. We will
take necessary measures to neutralize the effects of trade
liberalization and provision of incentives to improve its
technology and to enhance productivity.
BLACK
BELLY SHEEP
This
is one of the chief areas where agricultural production can
be increased through niche production. We see the future of
the sheep industry revolving around the establishment of a
sustainable linkage with our tourism industry.
We
will:
- Designate
and market Barbados Black Belly Sheep as a signature product
in collaboration with Barbados Sheep Farmers Inc. Barbados
Agricultural Society, BADMC, and Barbados Hotel and Tourism
Association.
- Protect
Barbados Black Belly sheep as a national genetic resource
and establish this unique animal as a Barbados brand.
DAIRY
INDUSTRY
We
will:
- Expand
the existing pilot feeding programme to all primary schools
by the year 2006.
- Support
the initiatives of the industry to have a new marketing
arrangement central to which is fair pricing and supply
arrangements with the Fair Competition Act.
FISHERIES
DEVELOPMENT
The fishing
industry provides jobs for over 6,600 Barbadians and there
is scope for expansion.
A
re-elected BLP will:
- Vigorously
promote a regional fishing environment in which Bajan fisherfolk
and their CARICOM counterparts will share the resources
of the Caribbean Sea
- Update
the incentive programme to support not only investment in
larger and more modern fishing vessels and modern fish harvesting
techniques, but also in the provision of ancillary facilities
such as ice making.
- Build
a new fish landing facility at Six Men’s, St. Peter.
- Rehabilitate
the older fish landing facilities like Oistins and Bridgetown
and bring the recently completed ones fully into operation.
- Promote
the production of value-added products - fish leather, fish
fingers, burgers and sausages and salted, dried and smoked
products
- Construct
“Sea Food City” at Princess Alice Highway. This
project will to develop linkages between the fisheries sub-sector
and tourism.
THE
SCOTLAND DISTRICT: - A SPECIAL DEVELOPMENT AREA
The Scotland
District covers one seventh of the land area of Barbados.
Over the past few years, The BLP government has spent on average
$6 million per year in stabilizing the area; and over $2 million
per year in improving its infrastructure. In the new term
we will invest over $60 million on its further development
and conservation.
WATER
FOR AGRICULTURE
The greatest
constraint to the viability of agriculture in Barbados is
a reliable supply of water at affordable prices.
We
will:
Fully
implement a $7 million irrigation project over the next three
years.
This
will see:
- The
refurbishment of irrigation systems at Ruby, Jackmans, Spring
Hall, St. Patricks, Friendship, Marchfield, Marshall, Poyer,
Kirtons, Heddings and Gibbons Boggs.
- Establishment
of 11 new irrigation districts over the next three years
at Three Houses, Sedge Pond, Diamond Valley, Bath, South
District, Pine Basin, Burnt- House, Back River, Spencers,
Sweet Vale and Newcastle.
- Provide
greater incentives for investments in water storage and
distribution systems for farms.
LAND
FOR THE LANDLESS
Through
the Land for the Landless Programme arable land, both private
and public, is made available to bona fide farmers who, otherwise,
would not be able to access lands. Since August 2002, 370.4
hectares has been made available to 92 small farmers who now
provide employment on their farms for 69 persons.
We will:
- Expand
this Programme to bring 1 215 hectares of arable public
and private agricultural land into production by the year
2007.
- Provide
a package of technical support services to participating
farmers.
- Facilitate
commercially competitive long-term leases for all lands
made in the Programme.
PRODUCTIVITY
INCENTIVES
We will:
- Inject
additional capital into the Agricultural Development Fund
to facilitate investment in capital equipment.
- Increase
disbursement of funds under the Rural Enterprise Fund, Livestock
Development Fund and Fruit Orchard Development Fund for
small farmer agricultural activities.
In order
to increase investment in agriculture and reduce the cost
of production, we will:
- Enact
an Agricultural Development Act to provide incentives on
a scale, similar to those given to tourism
- Amend
the Incentives Regime to allow agricultural producers to
claim rebates for costs incurred in accessing professional
business services.
YOUTH
AND GENDER
We recognize
the need to engender a new perspective to participation in
agriculture. We
will:
- Continue
to contribute both financial and human resources to the
4H movement;
- Facilitate
the involvement of young agricultural graduates in local
educational institutions, in commercial agriculture by providing
dedicated access to land under the Land for the Landless
Programme and providing financial assistance. Act.
CHANGES
AT BADMC
The BADMC
will be converted from a state trading monopoly to an agri-business
organisation to facilitate greater investment in the agricultural
sector.
RURAL
DEVELOPMENT
The BLP
Government will intensify the drive for the transformation
of rural Barbados
and for the creation of enterprises and opportunities for
rural folk.
We
will:
- Use
a minimum of fifty percent of the financial resources of
the Rural Development Commission for the creation of rural
enterprises.
- Expand
the Rural Enterprise Fund, Livestock Development Fund and
Fruit Orchard Development Fund to assist small entrepreneurs
in the development and expansion of sustainable enterprises.
- Provide
more resources for the development of craft and other community
tourism projects
- Intensify
and expand training programmes for small entrepreneurs.
- Continue
the market decentralisation programme by constructing vending
facilities at Six Roads, Redman’s Village, Belleplaine,
Bathsheba, Jackson, Crab Hill, Gemswick and Gall Hill, St.
John. These projects will follow those at the Glebe, Speightstown,
Oistins and Gall Hill, Christ Church.
- Divest
the management of community market facilities to communities
and citizens.
- Increase
the volume of local produce purchased by government institutions.
- Provide
loans to low-income earners in rural Barbados for home improvements
through the establishment of a Housing Credit Fund.
- Continue
to upgrade rural housing for the poor and in particular
to construct bathroom facilities for those remaining households
in rural Barbados.
- Expand
the asphalt and concrete road construction and improvement
programmes to ensure that every major rural community has
a paved road.
- Expand
the street-lighting programme to ensure that all communities
in rural areas.
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