The Tribune

By Rashad Rolle

FARMERS have urged the government to help strengthen their industry by talking less and doing more.

This follows the naming of the National Advisory Committee for Agriculture, consisting of 23 persons.

In response to the announcement, Bridgette Lory, president of the Farmer’s Association in South Andros, said the government must act – not just talk.

“I expect great things from the minister,” she said. “I hope that things aren’t just talk and that speed will pick up and the wind doesn’t come out of their sails.”

“Past governments have all failed to do enough for farmers,” she said, “just talk talk talk – so it’s time to put the money where the mouth is.

“We in South Andros are trying to assist in the revitalisation of the coconut industry.

“Though we are behind all the other islands, we believe we have a role to play.”

Another farmer, Monique Flowers, said: “We hope they would promote this farming thing because right now a lot of people want to get into it but people need finance and land.”

She said the government must “step up to the plate and help with the finance because we need assistance big-time.”

Andros farmer Charlotte Moxey said: “We need a lot of help from the government. Roads need to be expanded, plots divided up and more people brought in.”

According to Theophilis Neely, people with practical experience in farming need to be put in positions of power.

“I just wish we have some persons who actually know about farming,” he said. “We need a practical person who has had his hand dipped in the soil because book knowledge without practical experience is not good for the Bahamas.”

Evert Turnquest, a Long Island farmer, said farmers should be offered “better prices for the stuff produced and whenever you need a tractor, you could get it.

“The money for getting a tractor is $200 an hour, and that kind of money is not always there,” she said.