AGRICULTURE ON THE FRONT BURNER!!!
March 13, 2008
Edward Harris at Large!
AGRICULTURE ON THE FRONT BURNER!!!
The importance of Agriculture in the economy is gaining serious attention as the agencies concerned with the development of Agriculture take steps to put the sector on the front burner. The importance of Agriculture cannot be over emphasized. Even if the Banana Industry is in the twilight stage, there is still a role for farmers to diversify production to ensure food safety. With the impact of global warming and all the pitfalls of the environment, food supply must nevertheless be maintained.
Last week I had the pleasure of sitting in on a 4 day workshop which sought to promote Entrepreneurship in Agriculture. This week I was exposed to the implications of the Economic Partnership Agreement as they relate to the Agriculture Sector. Dr. Claudius Preville led the discussions and pointed to areas of concern and opportunities as a result of the EPA. Since what is done is done and it will take protracted negotiations to undo some of the grey areas in the agreement, I would rather deal with the challenges and opportunities.
The principal challenge is to keep the citizens of the region informed about the EPA and how they can access the various measures that have been put in place to facilitate the development aspect of the agreement. The European negotiators have been able to achieve in three years what the regional grouping has been unable to achieve in thirty five years. That significant agreement is to gain trade access to the Bahamas market when the Agreement comes into effect. It is my feeling that Caricom Prime Ministers have a window of opportunity to request that the trade aspect of Caricom be expanded to afford fellow Caricom countries duty free trading access into the Bahamas market. It is time that the Bahamas yield to its Caricom partners.
Entrepreneurs in the region must begin to forge business relationships with their counterparts in the Bahamas and the Dominican Republic not when the agreement comes into effect but now. Joint ventures in the manufacturing and services sectors must be vigorously pursued. In penetrating the two markets, emphasis should be placed on setting up satellite plants wherever practicable instead of trying to export finished products. Frootsy Foods and Baron Foods are two local companies that should be able to establish a presence through joint venture to penetrate the two markets.
The price of oil has now risen to US$111.00. This development has serious implications for cost of doing business and the cost of living. The US dollar at the said time is declining. Americans are feeling the heat financially. Our tourism industry has serious challenges. There is no need to panic. Rather, we must seek to find ways to cushion the effects. Restraint is very important. Opportunities to conserve and effect savings in every possible way in the home and the business place must be pursued. These austerity measures have to be applied by the Government and Citizens alike. The time has come when we are challenged to get more from less. However, I am confident that this too shall pass.
I expressed the position in previous articles about the need to expand the income of the household by more family members finding jobs. The unemployed can no longer sit around and wait for the ideal job. It is timely to remind my readers that there is dignity in labour. Those who are already employed need to seek out opportunities for the second and third job. We need our people to be industrious.
In spite of all the financial problems being experienced, credit is still freely available and the temptation is there for the people to incur further indebtedness. If ever self control was necessary, it is now! Should the cost of living continue to escalate there will be a serious financial crisis. I sincerely hope that our people will not find themselves living in tents as the Americans who were thrown out of their homes due to their inability to upkeep their mortgages.
Hereunder is my selected motivational quote for the week.
FOCUS ON YOUR FUTURE NOT YOUR PAST
Your future is a big adventure.
Prepare for your future don’t live in the past.
Savor your good memories,
use any bad ones as lessons in life.
Carve out a niche for yourself in your imagined future.
Think, feel and see yourself as successful.
To achieve any goal in life, you need to project your end result.
Think of the elation, the satisfaction, the joy you’ll feel.
Carry these ecstatic feelings with you every day
and they’ll bring your desired goals into view.
Sooner or later, you can win if you think you can.
The cards you are dealt in life
are less important than the way you play them.
Everyday you’re offered a new deal and new cards.
Success is in your future if you’re willing to work for it.
Copyright 2008 www.yourdailymotivation.com
Keep the Faith, God is in Charge, Dream Big and Expect Miracles all the time!!!
Edward Harris
Biblicist, Freelance Journalist, Author, Business & PR Consultant, Realtor, Sales & Marketing Specialist, Networker, Private Sector Advocate, Motivational Speaker
Email: eaharrisdestiny@gmail.com
Websites: http://www.Edwardharris.ws http://www.stluciasimplybeautiful.com http://www.stluciarealtors.com http://EdwardHarris.myvisalus.com