The Leader of the Opposition, Doc. the Honourable Godwin Friday, is extending an invitation to all concerned Vincentians to join him at an Arrowroot Forum to be held on Tuesday 19 June 2018 from 7:00pm at the Owia Government School.
For over 100 years the arrowroot industry has been the economic mainstay of many families in the northern sector of St. Vincent.
Thirty years ago arrowroot achieved yields of 30,000 lbs rhizomes per acre and 5,400 lbs starch per acre was produced. Today, after much neglect arrowroot yield equates to an average 11,000 lbs rhizomes per acre and we now produce only about 1,980 lbs starch per acre. A productivity of only 36.6%.
From Arrowroot alone, with the current market price for starch @ US 7.00 per lb, we are losing a potential US$ 23,940 per acre per crop.
At this low level of yield productivity, we have lost much of our competitive edge in the marketplace, as well as much money from the Agricultural sector.
The causes of low yield productivity include poor quality and wrong type of inputs; lack of transfer and adoption of better technology; lack of development funding and support for farmers and farmers organisations; poor infrastructure including farm and feeder roads; and a policy which regard agriculture as a thing of the past.
The objectives of the Arrowroot forum will be, among other things to:
- Provide a platform for arrowroot farmers to voice their plight and identify the challenges and current issues within the industry that impact their lives.
- Bring the problems of the Arrowroot farmers to the nation
- Listen to the concerns and solicit ideas from the farmers on how to revitalize the arrowroot industry.
- This Forum will therefore provide a platform for farmers to voice their ideas and perspectives on the development of St. Vincent and Grenadines.