The Editor, Sir:
In your Letter of the Day on July 25, the writer claimed that the problem was markets, then went on to explain the genuine problem that farmers have in their operation. Where he is wrong in my opinion is that, if the yield per acre and/or unit cost of production is equal or better than what is commonly attainable by our competitors, the marketing of products would be a non-issue. Basically, no major agricultural crop growing properly has resulted in low yields and higher cost per unit of production.
To be fair, governments over the ages have tried by way of tariff protection or promotion to get around the problem. The idea that tariffs should be used to protect industries or products should only be used for very short terms. Where sudden shifts in prices have caused major problems, or when large numbers of people are involved, major dislocation will occur.
The broiler industry is a particular example of a disaster derived from tariff protection. In that industry, the import content is about 90 per cent and yet the product is protected by a 260 per cent import tariff.
This results in resources that should be put in other agricultural or non-agricultural areas being put into areas that are propped up by draconian tariffs which are paid for by every Jamaican, rich or poor, uptown or downtown.
The only answer for agriculture is to increase the yield in units of production, while reducing its costs and to do that we have to have strong and vigorous crops, with well developed and vigorous root systems that can give us the yield at a cost that is equal or better than farmers competing against us are able to attain.
I am, etc.,
CHARLES GILPIN-HUDSON
Belmont
St. Catherine
