Chief Executive Officer of the Barbados Agricultural Society (BAS), James Paul.
Chief Executive Officer of the Barbados Agricultural Society (BAS), James Paul is calling for a closer working relationship between the agricultural sector and the various segments of the private sector going forward.
He made the comments in a recent interview with The Barbados Advocate as he said that such collaboration is necessary, and especially so, if the private sector is to cut down on unnecessary imports and the agricultural sector, which itself is a member of the private sector, is to be allowed to bloom as it should.
“Farmers are a critical part of the supply chain and should be given the respect they deserve and I think there needs to be a greater level of communication between members of the private sector that prevents instances from occurring where commodities are ordered, which are in ample supply here and local farmers then cannot get rid of what they have grown. That is one thing I am hoping that we can get resolved as we embark on this new year and if successful, we would be able to perform better,” he maintained.
Paul said such would allow farmers to be able to take full advantage of the opportunities to produce commodities for local consumers. His comments came as he said he is also hoping that as the hospitality sector makes a resurgence, that the linkages between the tourism and agricultural sectors are also strengthened.
“Those persons who have contact with tourists have to be willing to sell the products that we have available here. I know sometimes you hear all kinds of excuses being made, especially that the tourists are not accustomed to our products. While that may be true, many of these people when they go out among the ordinary Barbadians, they eat Barbadians food and they like the cuisine and we need to give our foods and products the opportunity to be featured and appreciated more by those visitors,” he said.
In that vein, he said the BAS and its membership would like that more locally produced agricultural products to be featured on the menus of hotels and restaurants in this country for the visitors and locals alike to enjoy. Noting that the COVID-19 pandemic has helped boost production within the local agricultural sector, he is adamant that the time is ripe for such entities to promote more indigenous foods.