DAYDREAMERS BY THE FARM

SOME  segments of the Puerto Rico 'does it better' clan, in the agricultural department for feeding sovereignty, are now loudly talking about the need to return, to focus on the economical possibilities as if farming was/is such a simple activity.

Not one of them has considered the implications and complexity of agriculture, except with daydreamer utopic illusions. Some difficulties of any farming are environmental. Pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers, diseases and irrigation are among these.  Pragmatics in terms of economics/profits are the others.  Competition from foreign countries with quality produce, intermediaries and  chain supermarkets selling exclusively this imported and cheaper imports are a tremendous obstacle.

Them agriculture pundits should talk about these issues before they engage any tax payer moneys in projects similar to the super port in Ponce or the super gas pipe recently.  That is a most, unless they assume the government, perceived by too many as a employment agency and private bank to default,  will be the one to  subside their operations and buy all their products like a life sentence.

The  global economical crisis created by  avaricious, money laundering banks, security firms, real estate speculators and greedy politicians will not be corrected planting yautia, batatas and malangas without a serious look at  agriculture as a whole.

What is the short/long run plan? To plant what some islanders consume in their diet?  How much will they cost?  Will the price paid by consumers be equal, similar or below what is now available? What about quality?  Will the daydreamers get those supermarket chains to sell them?

I wonder if daydreamers by the farm comprehend the economics of world agriculture. That understanding will help in the planning. Cheap and exploited labor, with long hours, exposed to all kinds of pollution is what makes agriculture in USA and Europe a success.
That in turn, creates a collateral plague: illegal immigration in those regions, a problem not to worry anyjuan here since over 200,000 from Dominican Republic occupy some regions of Puerto Rico.

Other amazingly ignored issues are the possibilities of grape plantations for good or bad wine/vinegar.  It is really unbelievable those geniuses in the University of Puerto Rico in Mayaguez, experts in you name it,  if related to agriculture have never proposed it.

Considering the amount of  trees planted in many urban contexts, endemic or not,  such as roble, ucar, caoba, Ficus, to name 3,  creating problems with the electrical wires and water pipes, the blind hogs in question have never considered the exploitation of these trees for furniture, appliances or tooth picks if I may. industries are never mentioned.

The poultry segment of agriculture has been a failure more than once, even when chicken/eggs were sold everywhere and profits were made. Unfortunately, avarice once again killed the industry thanks to people in the board of directors,  stealing and defrauding the local enterprises.

Puerto Rico a Mecca of hog consumption in the roasted mode, in addition to all it parts, produces only 20 percent of the millions  of pounds required annually to feed the population, a third of which is morbid obese/obese. Believe it or not! 

THIS the picture or photo of the scene,

agriculture demands vision, a wide angle lens

preferably.  That is the reality, plus my perception. I have not mentioned fruits, with these any planting wont even be  be necessary. An inventory of every vicinity in Puerto Rico will  show a variety of oranges, lemons, guanabanas including breadfruit, in many  backyards that could be collected, bought, sold or bartered for the benefit of many home owners as they do in other countries.

 

Agriculture is more than panas, guineos i batatas,

cabrones.  It is time for a new register and reading the subject. A sure profitable agricultural enterprise of Cannabis sativa, plantation, manufacturing and distribution should be considered.  They do it in California. 14 billions of of  USA dollars are created there. It is time to decriminalize and jump in the wagon.

 

that is that