The Editor, Sir:

Although I am Kingston-born and raised I am quite passionate about agriculture - to the point that I believe it should be taught in schools from infant and primary levels to the GCE/JSC levels in high schools along with marketing and entrepreneurship skills. This, I also believe, will attract a lot of young people to this profession in a meaningful way. For example, in Holland where much of the country is under water - every inch of dry land is in cultivation. Even lands that surround or are near the airport are being utilised.

So I was very thrilled recently that an empty lot overgrown with weeds in a section of the inner city of the Corporate Area was transformed into a viable farm producing a number of fresh agricultural products (vegetables). This event is also a clear indication of how flexible agriculture can be and should be further encouraged. The beauty about agriculture is that even though it is prone to bad weather as soon as the weather improves it can be turned around - and with good seeds, fertiliser and, of course, irrigation materials it doesn't take a lot of foreign investment to get it off the ground either.

Revolutionary technology

Another good thing about it is that technology is now in place to completely revolutionise this industry. The Sugar Company of Jamaica assets will be up for sale soon. I would very much like to see it sold to a Jamaican company or a company with a firm commitment to building a state-of-the-art sugar refinery in the country. I cannot understand the rationale of a country exporting its raw sugar and then turning around and importing a great deal of refined sugar per year to satisfy its domestic needs.

I would also like to see security beefed up around the cane fields and persons caught setting fires should be charged with arson.

With some effort and forward thinking a lot can be done with agriculture. Instead of complaining every time there is an increase in wheat price why not experiment in growing our own wheat? I firmly believe we should control production of our staples which include: flour, sugar and rice.

I am, etc.,

NOEL MITCHELL

Nlmworld@yahoo.com

Westchester, New York

Via Go-Jamaica