A day for farmers

For the third year in succession, Vincentian farmers, as organized under the Fair Trade banner, will be holding activities to celebrate what they have dubbed as FARMERS DAY, October 26. Their first successful attempt at this was in 2005 when activities were held at Mt. Wynne, while last year, Prospect Salt Pond, was the venue.{{more}}

The move to actually claim a day in honour of the nation’s farmers is a long-time yearning of the farmers’ movement. In fact, since the formation of WINFA, the regional farmers organization in 1982, there have been several, not so successful, attempts to institute such an event on a sub-regional scale. It corresponds to a desire for official recognition and appreciation of the efforts of our hard-working farmers in both feeding our people and bringing much-needed foreign exchange to our shores.

In spite of the lip-service paid to farmer appreciation, and old-talk about the role of agriculture in Caribbean development, the failure to officially set aside any day to honour our farmers remains a glaring omission on our calendar of events. We now have, quite rightly so, official holidays in tribute to our workers (MAY DAY) and fisherfolk (FISHERMAN’S DAY), while all kinds of DAYS are set aside for other categories. Not so for farmers. Is this not a demonstration of the lack of appreciation for their place in society? After 28 years of national independence, the old colonial stigma still remains.

It is, therefore, commendable that the Farmers Movement has endeavoured to correct this historical wrong and to try and place the invaluable contribution of farmers in its true perspective. So far, though, commendable as the initiative is, it is not sufficiently far-reaching in scope. There is a certain low-key approach on the part of the leadership of the farmers which belies their own belief in what they set out to do. The activities are too internalised and restricted, as though it is some closed-shop affair. It ought not to be just for Fair Trade farmers, but for the entire FARMING COMMUNITY. All farmers and their families and farm workers and theirs, too, should be invited to participate.

I go further. Such is the significance of the initiative that it must be sold to the entire society, and no effort spared to publicize it and win support for it. There ought to be a concerted lobby to get government to grant official recognition and support and for FARMERS DAY to be placed on the national calendar of events. From there it can be taken to the regional and international levels. In fact, there are similar noteworthy initiatives by small farmers’ organizations in other parts of the world.

I can hear some arguments to the contrary already trying to create differences where there are none. “But, don’t we have World Food Day?” would be one typical response. This day on the international calendar is meant to focus on the production, distribution and availability of food. It encompasses the efforts of all who participate in the food chain, including workers, processors, fisherfolk and farmers. FARMERS DAY is meant to focus specifically on our farmers.

Since conquest, colonialism and slavery, the contribution of our farmers has been taken for granted. Today, we talk glibly about the role of other sectors in propelling our development forward. Little recognition of the part our farmers have played in underpinning our development thrust. It is our farmers, first and foremost, who brought in the pounds and US dollars from exports which enabled us to finance much of our exports. It is their produce up until today which generates revenue on a weekly basis from T&T, Barbados and the U.K. They have been the true backbone of our country. Why then should we continue to deny them their rightful place under the sun?

FARMERS, celebrate your DAY, and much bigger may it grow!