I have seen the government talking a lot about increasing agricultural production in our country. This is without doubt a very good thing and must be encouraged.

However to do so we have to encourage our farmers to stay on the land while trying to get more young people to join this noble pursuit the government as to protect farmers from some preventable losses.

In the first place let me say that I live in Mahaica and we farmers suffer great losses from ‘predial’ larceny. It is heart rending to plant your crops, to nurse it for months and then when it is time to reap to sell to provide for your family it is stolen by persons who don’t want to work.

It is useless to go to the police. They know all the thieves but when farmers report they are at best ignored or at worst just chased out of the station. At the moment I have stopped planting plantain, for when a bunch is stolen we have nothing at all to get. The tree collapses.

If the government is serious then they must ensure that the police take immediate action against those identified thieves. I am appealing for help other wise I will have to leave the land.
MANESHWAR PERSAUD