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Implement the numerous sugar findings

THE EDITOR, Madam:

CONCERNING THE article 'Probe sugar funds' (May 20), I note Senator Alfred Rattray said, "that since the sugar industry was likely to remain, despite suggestions to the contrary, there should be a Commission of Enquiry into its various problems, with the aim of providing recommendations on what to do about them". I wish to remind those who have either forgotten or do not know, that Commissions of Enquiry into the sugar industry are nothing new. So rather than reinvent the wheel, we should take note of past Enquiries.

The first of note is the Commission chaired by Sir Henry Norman appointed in December 1896 by the British Government. This came about because the industry had been in serious depression for most of the latter part of the 1800s, with the failure of the Bourbon cane from 1890 onwards. This was the predominant variety grown then and it failed mainly to root disease. One of the main outcomes of the Commission was the setting up of the Imperial Department of Agriculture for the British West Indies in 1897.

While here was a brief period of prosperity during World War One to 1920, the industry took another setback with disease again. Mosaic was prescribed, but the cause was not known. The Olivier Commission was set up in 1929 to investigate the depressed state of the industry. Their findings found that it was not due to a lack of efficiency and could not be remedied by changes in methods of production alone. Rather, one of the main recommendations was "Research on diseases and cane varieties should be continuously and energetically pursued".

But the problem of disease is not unique to sugar cane alone. Down to Breadfruit trees have been dying. Work done by Dr. Phyllis Coates-Beckford of UWI and Marlene Pereira of CARDI, which was sponsored by the Jamaican Agricultural Development Foundation, highly suggest the trees are dying due to root problems. The Environmental Foundation of Jamaica has sponsored publications by Dr. Coates-Beckford showing root problems in other crops. Dr. Coates-Beckford has been promoting a soil treatment using solar energy to combat this problem.

A group of farmers comprising Mark Brooks of Richmond, St. Ann, Mark Kerr-Jarrett of Barnett, St. James and Dr. John Masterton (Chairman of JLA) of Blenheim, St. Ann recently contracted the services of Professor Gary Simone, Extension Plant Pathologist from University of Florida. Professor Simone is no stranger to Jamaica as he came here to look at Leather Leaf Fern projects that were failing in 1992. Prominent people in the Ministry of Agriculture such as the Permanent Secretary, Mr. Aaron Parke, and Dr. Florence Young know his professional abilities.

Professor Simone simply could not believe the level of root destruction across a wide range of plants that he examined. These included cane, coconuts, bananas, vegetables and herbs, ornamentals, forage grasses and lawn grass. Even the playing field at Chukka Cove Polo club was examined and no decent root structure was found.

It should be pointed out that despite tender loving care, the original grass on the field died out exhibiting symptoms of large brown patches. Professor Simone stated that in his 20+ years of the running the Plant Disease Clinic at Gainesville, Florida, he had never been able to recreate the type of root destruction he saw in Jamaica.

He also said that the type of soils he saw should have been able to give yields in excess of what is obtained in Florida.

So until the recommendations of 70 years ago are put in place, all that will continue to take place is the continued decline of agriculture, which will further depress the country's economy. It is said that the future is the past happening over again.

How little we have progressed.

I am, etc.,

MARK BROOKS

Managing Director

Richmond Farms Ltd.

Laughlands P.O.

St. Ann

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