Agriculture Minister Arnold Piggott has promised to go all out to eliminate indiscipline in agriculture production. Stating that for far too long people who have not laboured in the fields were benefiting from the farmers' blood, sweat and tears. Piggott insisted, this has got to stop. Piggott was speaking last week Friday at his St Clair office about praedial larceny, which he said had become a major disincentive to agriculture production. In a bid to curb the on-going theft, Piggott said by the end of this month, the Agriculture Ranger Squad (ARS) will be out in full force and anyone caught stealing from farmers will be hauled before the courts to answer for their wrong doing.
Piggott said the introduction of the ARS was just one of the ways to bring an end to the illegal activity which had become a thorn in the farmers' side. Located in Brechin Castle, Couva, the squad, which comes fully equipped, Piggott said, comprises 29 trained and armed officers, including a high ranking officer. "These officers were trained by the police and Defence Force within the last few weeks," Piggott boasted. "They would have powers of arrest." Once the squad is up and running, Piggott said it will be expanded to other agricultural districts.
Eliminating indiscipline
On the issue of the real farmers not reaping the rewards, Piggott said, "We must find a way to eliminate this indiscipline from agriculture production where people who have not laboured are benefiting." Piggott said for the ARS to become effective in its operations, farmers must register with the ministry and keep proper records of what they cultivate and reap. "It's painful to think that a farmer who has embarked on a farming programme would be denied the opportunity to reap...and someone who has not laboured in the vineyards will come and rob him of his income and profitability. It discourages the farmer from going on." Piggott said the ARS was one of the approaches that will be pursued to reduce the scourge of praedial larceny. In order to make the ARS a better functioning body, Piggott urged farmers to register with the ministry.
Will the ARS spread its wings to the farming community in Tobago?
"The Tobago House of Assembly has reviewed our model of the ARS and wishes to adopt it. Seeing that the THA handles its own affairs, I don't think the squad will go there," Piggott said. Piggott said he also intends to engage in dialogue with the Government, including Attorney General John Jeremie to establish an agricultural court. "There is merit in separation of criminal matters relating to agriculture in a separate place for quick dispatch. But that, of course, will be a policy matter which has to be determined by the executive."
Tracking devices
Piggott also spoke about the introduction of tracking devices in goat and sheep. He pointed out that in some countries abroad, tiny electronic devices are embedded in small ruminants in the early stage of life so the animals could be traced when stolen or strayed. "That technology we would have to explore in T&T to see how we can assist, particularly in the area of small ruminants. We need to introduce some special traceability device to deal with the issue of praedial larceny to produce more of our meats and better supply."
Imported meats, Piggott said, contributed significantly to T&T's food import bill.