Accusing Government of neglecting the agriculture industry, Friday called for wide ranging reforms in the way the industry is handled.

Opening a debate on a December 2002 report on the sector, Mr. Simons quoted from the report, saying ?It is apparent that Government does not have a well articulated policy when it comes to agriculture?.

The report which was written by overseas consultants at the University of Florida criticised Government policy for ?conflicting policies? regarding the sector.

?Lack of tariff exemptions on spare parts for agricultural machinery, irrigation parts, and other items serve to increase the cost of production,? Mr. Simons quoted it as saying. ?Apparent inconsistent enforcement of zoning regulations serves to continually erode the land available for agricultural production.?

?The report goes on to thrash the government by stating that ?the Government needs to decide is a viable agricultural sector is desired in Bermuda. If not, they should be honest and eliminate the meagre direct and indirect support given to the industry, and let the market forces cause its destruction?.?

Mr. Simons called for a policy which encourage competition and sustainability and was pro market and environmentally responsible.

?Government must bite the bullet and commit a few million dollars to the development of a national agricultural development plan,? he said. ?This Government must pull the plug out, and develop this industry instead of developing Cuba?s tourism industry.?

He claimed that Government had virtually ignored the Agricultural Board?s recommendations and have to read the papers to find out about Government?s decisions such as cancelling the Ag Show.

And Mr. Simons called on Government to work with insurers to provide a disaster recovery program which would help restore the industry after a catastrophe and reduce duties for farming equipment.

?We need to build our way out of the crisis and create a new partnership to set agriculture on course for a healthy and profitable future,? he said.

He called for further measures including reviewing the embargo system, and looking at subsidising dairy farmers and eliminating charges for dairy hygiene inspections.

And, Mr. Simons said, Government should launch a farming industry website filled with industry specific information such as market trends and forecasts, business plans and crop management advice.

Government should encourage farm diversification with a free consultancy service from the Planning Department, an advisory booklet and giving a key role to the Small Business Development Corporation. And he wants money to be pumped into the Farmer?s Market.

?The Farmer?s Market should be reassessed and upgraded for Bermuda?s agricultural produce. It should be a central market for produce, and as a consequence it could ensure more cost effective distribution channels. There will be more buyers facing more sellers which will result in a more efficient pricing structure.?

The Opposition spokesman then went on to address arable land, saying Government must act to stop agricultural zoned land becoming lawns. Less than half of the 780 acres of farm land is in productive use, he noted, before calling for moving control of arable land from the Works Ministry to Environment. And he said that a four acre plot of land at Frog Lane was in a ?sad and unproductive state, because of poor management by Government as owner?. Backyard and organic farming should be encouraged, Mr. Simons added.

said there had been no feedback from the farming community on the report. In the wake of Hurricane Fabian, technical officers have resolved to visit every farm after a major storm.

She said while Government supported duty relief for farm equipment, a decision had been deferred although it was still under active consideration.

Works and Engineering staff plan to consult with farmers before issuing any new leases for agricultural land.

Whenever Government had offered a consortium of farmers the chance to run the marketing centre they had always turned it down. The study had supported embargoes, which ensured price stability, although local produce was ?inconsistent? and there was a lack of speciality food, she said.

The Ministry supported home garden, and commercial farmers were becoming innovative with some like Tom Wadson going organic. said the report found Government had no ?well articulated? approach to agriculture and he said Government should strive to put the sector on a stronger footing.

Bermuda would never be able to provide all its own food, but it should strive to become more self-sufficient, said Mr. Barritt.

The report had said that Government had to decide if agriculture was to be a viable in Bermuda then all policies had to be reviewed.

He said it was a ?shame? that Government offered nothing to farmers whose crops had been destroyed by Fabian. There was no problem finding millions for the Berkeley School project when it overran yet Government could find nothing for farmers.