Farmers drew back from their plan to plough up disused farm land in Frog Lane after Government promised it would be given back to agriculture.

And farmers say they are keen on growing crops on the former military base.

The farmers had plotted their protest after Government announced plans to put a new Transport Control Department on land formerly leased by Gary Mello.

After Government had a change of heart farmers still planned to go ahead with their protest but after receiving assurances from Government Permanent Secretary for Works and Engineering Dr. Derrick Binns that the deserted overgrown site would be kept as arable land the ploughing had been called off.

Bermuda Farmers Association spokesman Tom Wadson said: ?We have been assured that every effort is being made to make this field available for agriculture in the very near future. ?Clearly the farmers of Bermuda are expecting prompt action and we are anxiously anticipating the same.

?We are running out patience. However we do believe the Permanent Secretary of Works and Engineering will stand by his word. Time is of the essence.?

The farmers said they had every confidence in the Minister of Environment and had appreciated her efforts so far.

Recently Government released an agricultural review which was welcomed by the farmers. Mr. Wadson said: ?We have every hope that the recommendations therein will be implemented in the very near future.?

The farmers said they had been surprised the Ministry of Transport would even contemplate using arable land for their new testing site. ?The thought of using this land, which is only open land because it is farmland, is a huge worry.? Retention of farmland and its responsible stewardship is essential said the farmers. understands that Government initially offered land at Morgan?s Point in exchange for farmers giving up claims on the zoned arable land at Frog Lane. ?There has been mention of opening up more land on the former military bases.

?This would be greatly appreciated by the Bermudian farming community.?

Mr. Wadson believes parts of the polluted 250-acre are farmable. There needs to be much more forward planning throughout Bermuda. ?The farmers would welcome the creation of more farmland. We have an abundance of compost be produced and see huge benefits if it could be used to in land renovation and construction.?

Environment Permanent Secretary Brian Rowlinson said: ?We would like to be in a position where we could get another tenant farmer in. It?s a beautiful piece of agricultural land.?

The Ministry is also keen to get farming going at Greenwhich farm, also leased by Mr. Mello, which is currently overgrown.