Rick Lowe
Check out the latest commentary at the Nassau Institute about subsidising agriculture.
Here's a little snippet:
"The Ministry’s objective is to “stimulate” food production with more money to bring the country “nearer to food security”. In spite of no evidence of a food shortage or the likelihood of one in the future, money is taken today from taxpayer’s pockets where there is a real shortage of that commodity."
"Trying to fulfill a utopian vision of self-sustaining food production has unseen consequences. For example, the money to expand the government program is taken from Mr. Taxpayer who had saved up for a new suit. The other loser is the little tailor not hired to make the suit."
Click here… to read the entire article.
This is a topic that deserves a lot more attention than the over blown press releases from the government.
Government can give nothing to farmers without taking it from the taxpayer first. Even I could be a hero if I was allowed by law to dig into your wallet to then "give" you a subsidy.
It's such a mockery.
Taking Taxpayers money to subsidize a non- productive industry isn’t common business sense. But as you said, the government isn’t in the “business” of “business”. Before committing these funds to the ministry, the government should analyze the benefit to the country on the money already spent. Were agricultural products cheaper over the past 10 years due to the subsidies spent on the industry? Have imported agricultural products to the family islands decreased where there are local farmers and packing houses? These are the questions government officials need to ask. You need to have a criteria for measuring success?
Does anyone know why agricutlure hasn’t produce the desired results it should have based on the amount of taxpayers money going toward it? is it low fertile soil, poor quality of the produce, economies of scale, lack of expertise, or high labour? Increasing the allocation to this industry won’t get the desired results. I’m actually interested in this sector but I don’t know where to start. Any ideas?
May I suggest Bay Street, if you wish to get into farming, put on the right political colors, line up and get your money for nothing!!
Rick, they are a mockery and can be nothing else as it is their only game.
Played at our expense.
Farming has worked form time to time over the years.
Owens Illinois was quite successful in Abaco until the government back then chased them out. Then it failed.
Mr. Edison Key was quite successful for a while in Abaco as well on Crown Land.
Generally speaking I think the quality has been an issue when compared to foreign fruit and vegetables.
Of course much of it is seasonal which also causes problems.
Hope these quick comments help.
I’m sure lots of people will be lining up as my blogging mate suggests below :0)
I’m thinking about getting into making blankets,its so cold here sometimes.Can I get some free money please, I have on my red shirt.Take it from the MPs, stop paying them & use their money to subsidize, stop using my hard earned money, please.
Local farmers make a mockery of the system, one case in point and I’m sure there are many similar ones. I had a discussion with a farmer regarding duty free concessions and protective duty rates on imported products that are locally grown. Their argument was that if imported watermelons sold for $2.00 per pound then they should be able to get the same price. I tried to explain that the imported product costs were high due to the fact that watermelons had a 200% duty rate to give them the opportunity to sell their product at a fair price.
The politicans don’t understand this either. Whenever the MOST people benefit from anything then this is what is best for a country.
I believe if a poll was taken you would find that in all governments there are more lawyers involved than business people and I believe that is why the world is in such a mess.
The point you raised is exactly what I suggest in regards to the benefit that local farmers have on the society. Farmers like most subsidized industries, want to receive the same price for their goods without producing a superior quality.