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'Farmers should get single-digit interest rate loans!

Cecil Goodridge

IF FARMING is to survive, meaningful incentives will have to be offered to the sector by the Government. This is the view of president of the St. Catherine Branch Society of the Jamaica Agricultural Society, Dr. Cecil Goodrige.

"We are asking that the Government makes single-digit interest rate loans available to farmers," he said.

He said the sector seemed to be in decline. There has been a 20 per cent reduction in borrowing from commercial banks by farmers in one year up to February of this year and a 55 per cent reduction from other banks.

Dr. Goodridge, who was speaking at the annual general meeting of the St. Catherine Branch Society, appealed to farmers to improve their presentation by cleaning their produce properly. He said that the farmers needed to adopt higher standards if they are to compete with imported food.

The agricultural sector grew by 1.9 per cent last year and Dr. Goodridge said that the figure had remained almost constant for a decade. "Any sector that is growing by only 2 per cent is not doing well," he contended.

Many of the farmers who braved the sweltering heat of the church hall to listen to the speakers, had grouses related to coffee and cocoa. An 87-year-old retired farmer, Prince Golding, called for independent representation and the end of dual rule, where one person heads two organisations which must interact on behalf of farmers.

Dr. Goodridge is Director General of the Coffee Industry Board, first vice-president of the Jamaica Agricultural Society and president of the St. Catherine branch society. He defended his positions, saying there was no conflict of interest.

Some farmers called for a clear line of communication with the administrative bodies, among them the coffee and cocoa boards. They asked to be told beforehand the amount of deductions to be made from their payments and for what purposes. JAS President A.A. Bobby Pottinger said the matter was currently very heated and will be addressed before the JAS' annual general meeting on July 26.

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