NATIONAL INTEGRATED DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY
Emerging Issues, Agriculture
(continued)
5.0 THE MAIN CONSTRAINTS TO AGRICULTURAL
DEVELOPMENT
From the findings, the following
have come up to be the main constraints to agricultural development in the BVI.
(i) The topography and
shallow depth of topsoil of the BVI.
The topography of the BVI is dominated by high mountains forming
ridges almost in all islands from which valleys slope down to coastal areas. Slopes are
very steep in such a way that farming cannot take place there. Where valleys approach the
coast, there are areas of comparatively flat land. Actually, most of the cultivation is
found on these areas in small-holdings. In this case arable land is limited.
(ii) Difficulties in
attracting labour into agriculture given the high wages paid by other sectors.
Other sectors are more attractive in terms of income levels and
other benefits. Because of this labour has been moving away from agriculture to other
sectors where wages are higher resulting in a shortage of labour in agriculture sector.
(iii) The age structure
of the farmer.
The average age of farmers engaged in agriculture is over fifty
years, majority work part-time and there is a low level of literacy among this group.
There is also a relatively slow movement of young farmers into agriculture.
(iv) Shortage of water
for sustained production during the dry season and the absence of appropriate dry land
farming technology.
No water distribution system in most rural or farming areas and
there is no special rules for farmers. The rainfall is not enough to warrant proper
agricultural development. Even water supply to farmers has always been a problem and
continues to affect their production.
(v) Absence of land use
plan for agriculture.
There is no land use plan for the BVI.
(vi) Absence of an
organized marketing system and infrastructure.
Marketing facilities are far away from the farmers and in most
cases, transportation has been a problem. In some areas roads are very poor and most of
the agriculture is done on steep slopes where there are no roads.
(vii) Absence of
appropriate technology for management of pests and diseases.
Majority of the farmers are still using old technologies
i.e. poor tools, low usage of fertilizer and pest control etc. Technical advice and
training is limited due to shortage of manpower at the Department of Agriculture.
(viii) Inappropriate
technology for reduction of post harvest losses in vegetables and food crops.
(ix) Lack of funds.
The budget allocation to the department is not enough to meet the
daily expanding obligation of the department. The following table below shows the budget
allocation both recurrent and capital expenditure from 1989 to 1995.
Table
4
Budget Allocation from 1989 to 1995.
| Year |
Recurrent Expenditure US$ |
% of National Expenditure |
Capital Expenditure US$ |
% of National Expenditure |
| 1989 |
864,400 |
2.67 |
74,000 |
0.31 |
| 1990 |
1,967,900 |
4.88 |
58,000 |
0.31 |
| 1991 |
1,025,000 |
2.02 |
200,000 |
0.52 |
| 1992 |
981,200 |
1.80 |
134,500 |
0.37 |
| 1993 |
1,053,000 |
1.68 |
50,000 |
0.14 |
| 1994 |
1,183,300 |
1.55 |
56,300 |
0.13 |
| 1995 |
1,270,000 |
1.58 |
57,00 |
0.13 |
Source: Department of Agriculture &
Development Planning Unit (DPU) |
From the above table it is obvious
that agricultural development will remain stagnant if the trend of budget allocation
remains like that. The most affected is capital expenditure, which is important for the
expansion of the sector and has been receiving less than one percent of the national
budget.
(x) Lack of Data
Currently there is a problem of data collection. The data
available is not reliable because not every thing produced is recorded and vital
statistics are not available.
(xi) The absence of
enforced plant and animal quarantine laws.
This creates the likelihood of importing foreign pests and
diseases into the territory.
(xii) Land Ownership
Profile.
Land available in small holdings.
(xiii) The absence of
legislation governing inspection of meats.
The absence of this legislation has slowed the sale of meat to
the hospitality industry.
(xiv) The absence of laws to
protect small ruminants against strayed animals.
(xv) Critical shortage of foraye
for feeding livestock during the dry season.
Despite the above constraints the
energizing of agriculture in the BVI in Government action has resulted in the following:
1) There has been an
increase in agriculture production in the BVI. In 1992 the total value of production was
$1,427,440 which was 35% higher than 1989 ($1,063,600). This trend continued into 1994.
Information on 1995 to present is not readily available, however it is widely expected
that because of the damage that was incurred by Hurricane Luis, Marilyn and Bertha there
would have been a reduction from 1994.
2) There has been
increased growth in consumer preference for local produce.
3) An increase in the
number of young persons involved in agriculture.
4) Increased farmer
incomes.
5) Ninety percent
self-sufficiency in beef.
6) Increased exports of
Virgin Island White Sheep to the OECS. I
7) Increased competence
of the Department of Agriculture’s staff.
While the impact of this new thrust
is widely recognized by the British Virgin Islanders including the farming community, the
challenges that agriculture in the BVI face can be summarized as follows:
1. To increase
production of a number of commodities to meet the growing demand for agriculture produce
created by the growing tourism industry and an affluent society.
2. To arrest and reduce
the gap between import and export of food commodities in a competitive environment focused
on small commercial producers.
3. To increase the
production and marketing of food crops and livestock given the above constraints.
These challenges are not
insurmountable in an environment where there is strong policy and financial support for
agriculture. The BVI has recognized
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