Farming must become a protected industry in Bermuda, according to Shadow Environment Minister Cole Simons.

And he called on Government to implement a sustainable agriculture plan for the future.

Calling for wide ranging reforms, Mr. Simons said Bermuda must provide support for farming and engage the community to promote and understand the importance of local farming.

?This industry is part of the success of Bermuda ? we have young people on walls who are crying out for the opportunity to make a decent living ? why not have them use their energy on something as basic and sustainable as agriculture. We need to promote farming as a pillar of our community,? said Mr. Simons.

Criticising Government for failing to act on recommendations of a 2002 agriculture report, Mr. Simons said there was a lack of vision when it came to guiding the industry into the future.

Mr. Simons suggested Government launch a farming industry web site filled with industry specific information such as market trends and forecasts, business plans and crop management advice.

Highlighting the findings of a report conducted two years ago by three consultants from the University of Florida, Mr. Simons said the report indicated Government did not have a well-articulated policy when it came to agriculture.

The report found a significant proportion of Bermuda?s farmers were disaffected with their role in society and indicated they were considering abandoning vegetable production.

Mr. Simons said a plan would help Bermuda boost its GDP and keep the Island in line with a United Nations mandate that encouraged countries to increase their level of self-sufficiency and sustainability.

He said the topic was highlighted in the 2003 Throne Speech but Government had yet to table a sustainable plan stating its plans for development and protection of the industry.

?There is no farming policy or decision about where the industry will go,? he said. ?This is an industry which can engage people who feel disconnected to make a contribution to our economy but at the moment we?re not encouraging this industry to become more productive if there is no policy or decisions about where Government will go with the industry.?

After the 2002 report Government said it was committed to preserving agriculture by protecting arable land, encouraging advancement of agricultural techniques, providing incentives and continuing the embargo system to promote price stability for local fresh produce. However the report suggested the embargo system ? which blocks certain imports either permanently or while local produces is in season ? could be modified.

It suggests produce imports, which are already subject to five to ten percent price tariffs, could be hiked up to 50 percent when local produce is in season, thereby allowing imports and boosting choice but establishing a price wedge between local and foreign produce.

Mr. Simons said the embargo system was working well for farmers, however, there could be a partnership put in place with the agriculture and the restaurant industry which would promote the quality of local food and help to enhance the productivity of farms.

?Farmers have told me that restaurants recognise the costs are higher but the quality of the produce is far superior - there is no forced growth of the kind that overseas producers often engage in,? said Mr. Simons.

Well-known farmer Tom Wadson, who is in the process of having his farm become a full-fledged organic operation, said Government must encourage production locally to help farmers support themselves in an industry facing a number of challenges namely competition from subsidised imports and a forever shrinking amount of land with which to work. ?We need to encourage Bermuda?s farms to run at a maximum ? we have to think for the future along the lines of good food that is produced locally,? said Mr. Wadson.

He also called for a review into zoning laws with a balance between open woodland and arable land.

?It seems as if there could be re-development of empty areas which allows a plan to be put in place for farming in the future,? said Mr. Wadson.

He also added that Government should keep a close eye on embargoed vegetables and the amounts brought into the Island without any restraints or examination into the labelling of the produce, namely produce which is advertised as organic.