Shelly-Ann Thompson, Staff Reporter

Minister of Agriculture Dr Christopher Tufton makes his contribution to the 2008/2009 Budget Debate in the House of Representatives yesterday. - Rudolph Brown/Chief Photographer

AN APPEAL for Jamaican consumers to decrease their dependence on food imports was yesterday put out by Agriculture Minister Dr Christopher Tufton, who warned that the developing world food crisis posed a "clear and present danger" to the nation.

Tufton, in making his debut presentation in the annual Budget Debate in Parliament yesterday, spent just under three hours stressing the necessity for the nation to increase its agriculture output and feed its own people.

Noting that some 61 per cent of the country's basic food items were imported, the agriculture minister said data from the Statistical Institute of Jamaica showed that the nation's food import bill had increased from US$479 million in 2002 to US$662 million up to November 2007.

"The frightening reality of increasingly high food prices, together with the daunting projections, are in fact a summons to action now," Tufton said. "Countries the world over, regardless of size or economic profile, are taking conscious and deliberate steps to combat this emerging threat."

Food-planting project

However, though the agriculture minister outlined measures aimed at addressing the spiralling food bill, those measures will not immediately slash costs.

Chief among the measures announced is a national food-planting programme that is intended to be the highlight of Labour Day 2008.

Tufton said Cabinet agreed on Monday to place the focus of Labour Day, to be observed on May 23, on food security. The theme will be 'Eating What We Grow and Growing What We Eat'.

The school garden programme will also be expanded through the Jamaica 4-H clubs in collaboration with the ministry.

At a cost of $30 million, the ministry will distribute some 200,000 packets of vegetable seeds to each student from grades eight to 11 in every secondary institution. These seeds are expected to be planted at home or within their communities on Labour Day.

In addition, commencing this year, school gardens will be established within 966 public institutions.

Backyard gardening

"The intention is to encourage our young people to appreciate agri-culture, nature and the environment, and to impress on them the critical importance of food security," said Tufton.

Another initiative to boost agricultural production is an Urban Backyard Garden Programme, which will be implemented immediately within 400 households in Portmore and Spanish Town, St Catherine.

Initially, selected residents within these communities will be given free of cost a backyard garden kit, developed by the Rural Agricultural Development Authority.

Tufton said that, by planting two cycles of tomato, cucumber, sweet pepper and pak choi, the average household would save some $12,000 annually.

"This Government believes that we must return to the days when householders grew a little something for themselves in their backyards," said Tufton.

shelly-ann.thompson@gleanerjm.com