It is not surprising that in The Sunday Gleaner (August 2) Dr Marshal Hall is championing agriculture as the engine of growth for Jamaica. Dr Hall has demonstrated that it can be done by transforming Jamaica Producers into one of our largest and most trusted food exporters while he was at the helm of that company.

While I am in agreement with most of his assertions regarding solutions to our national poverty and food problems, as well as our production capacity and diversity of crop productions, I know that despite our susceptibility to hurricanes, fruit tree orchards can and should be established, provided it is scientifically done, taking into consideration the following:

Location analysis such as land formation and elevation, soil capability, micro-climate and rainfall, wind directions and probable intensity (hurricane gusts), road conditions and proximity to markets, labour availability, praedial larceny, security system and, foremost, the establishing of windbreaker tree lines (type of trees) at appropriate locations and distances to minimise destructive forces of inclement weather.

Another area of utmost importance to our agriculture and food security is the zoning of our arable fertile soils regardless of previous notions of realty advantages.

I am, etc.,

ERAN SPIRO

eranspiro@yahoo.com