The Ministry of Agriculture has begun issuing identification cards to farmers in the bid to curb praedial larceny on the island.
Delia Cuffy-Weekes of the Ministry of agAiculture made the announcement on the Talking Point Program on the National Radio Station this week.
The new initiative comes ahead of the islands hosting of the Caribbean Week of Agriculture this month.
“We have instituted a system where bona fide farmers register with their district. Upon registration of the extension officers will do verification of the holdings, so we know that this persons is a farmer, the farmer then get a produce sellers license which allows that persons to legally trade in the produce that they are producing. They will have a farmer ID card which will be used to identify the farmer as a bona fide farmer. This must be used every time that the farmer is doing a transaction,” she said.
She said however not all farmers have embraced the initiative.
“Some people for whatever reason are refusing to come in to register. You find that because people are not taking advantage, then you have people selling stuff but there could be a situation where people’s crops are stolen.” she said.
Cuffy-Weekes said the new initiative will do more good than harm to farmers and they should take advantage of it.
…and where’s the scope for the wholesaler going retail, or the huckster re-selling items they ‘over bought’? When I have a few pineapples growing in the corner of my plot and someone pass and steal them are you going to tell me this is a matter I can rely on my ‘farmer’s card’ for an assurance of an investigation? When someone cuts down my grafted mango tree ‘by mistake’ or sprays shit on my soil, steals my crops and unties my cattle on my land and I tell the police who it is and the person is blatantly boasting about doing so publicly and the police do nothing A FARMER’S CARD IS GOING TO HELP ME????
Hear me KMT!!!!
@ Papa Way
I cannot believe that people would do this to others. You have confirmed that it has happened to you. This is so sad. The perpetrator should be brought to justice. Pursue it.
this is the clearest indication of dominicans level of perception and education……SMH listen to them shoot down a good idea.
That’s nonesense, how is this going to help the farmers and the back yard planters? There is no legislation in place to recognise these cards.
if Dominicans were a people with integrity there would be no need to even have legislature. because everyone would respect another mans hard work as much as they appreciate theirs….but we forget these principles when we get to conveniently save a few bucks.we all know human beings and their fragile inhibitions.
This is a good initiative but the people who buy the produce have a huge part to play also.
Ma grand mère m’avait dire toujours, ” si il n’a pas soutiwen il n’a pas vouleur!
THIS IS JUST A MATTER OF THE NEXT LEVEL , A VERY STUPID IDEA, INSTEAD THEY SHOULD US THE TIME N MONEY TO HELP THE FARMERS SELL THE PRODUCE.
WHAT A DAMN SHAME
ID MI ARSE TAX COLLECTION BIG TIME
Another control method. Next will be taxes.
Yes, there is a lot of theft of produce from peoples’ gardens but I doubt that an ID card is going to make any difference to a thief and their buyers.
I 100% agree. Where are the benefits to this scheme and who will run, maintain and implement it? Will there be a FARMER’S POLICE SQUAD inspecting yam and dasheen? If they don’t do forensics when it comes down to murder how are they going to identify one stolen yam from another? I suppose they could do a line-up…lol! (Silly to laugh at your on jokes).
hence the farmers ID card to verify that the person you are purchasing from is indeed a farmer. but if i know a dominican well, we will still buy produce from those drug addicts knowing they are not farmers. in other words dominicans in their true nature will uphold wrong even when it applies to the poor farmer.
talking about police to identify yam??? is us to IDENTIFY the people we buying from…..is us to stop playing blind and watch in our hearts because with our open eyes we buying the stolen produce…
yes like we need police for everything…..dominicans with their lack of conscience cannot even police themselves, you think they would ask for ID when they getting the stolen goods at a bargain???? just look at the way they litter their own country, then they talk about I am Dominica.. nature isle and all that jazz.SMH
lol…this is absolutely laughable…seriously
I wonder if this is the first step of implementation of a taxation system on the peasant farmers.
Then it will be ‘I’ve got the list let the taxation begin’.(psycho in motion)
You are not a man or woman if you don’t pay taxes!!!! Period.
You are not a patriot of this land if you do not pay taxes!!!
Citizens of working and producing age must make it their civic duty regardless of political affiliation to pay their income taxes and they should look at ways of being more productive so that more can be contributed to the consolidated fund.
If we want development we as a Nation must be the first to finance our National Development through our taxes because we all benefit from the fruits of development so we should all make the sacrifices through our taxes!!! Amen and Amen.
Praedial larceny is a big problem and as such Government should think to provide a one time rebate of 50% of the cost up to a maximum of $5,000 for any approved farm security system to protect against praedial larceny, electric or electronic or any other kind which does not breach the laws of Dominica and meets the requirement of the Ministry of Agriculture.
actually this is not a new initiative .it was started with the UWP gov`t then fell by the wayside, dont know why.
YEP…AND I BET THEY GOING START SAYING “FIRST TIME THIS AND FIRST TIME THAT”
Weh Weh Weh u fellas like to tax those farmers boy, Yes I. U all licensing them now.
stupid !! farmers only pay tax when they buy and pay VAT. :
I think this is a very good initiative. While it may not eradicate the problem, I see it at potentially improving the situation. But it has to be enforced. It should be madatory, and enforced. People should refrain from buying from those without the ID, or face the consequence.I don’t see what there is to lose on the farmers’ part.
Another control system. What happens if you don’t have a card or subscribe to this ludicrous system? What DOES THE ‘REAL’ FARMER get out of it? THEY who implement the scheme want to know how much land you have, what crops you grow, how many people work it and the list goes on. All the while the swamp dasheen that you famously grow is still being stolen because the Police lack the resources. manpower or (in some cases) the will to be bothered to investigate.
This control-system allows for you ‘the farmer’ to be categorized and your activities analyzed. FOR EXAMPLE: “How can mister be driving that TOYATA Rav4 and all he grows is yam on a half-acre plot that he shares with his cousin?”
PEOPLE – IT’S ANOTHER TIME-WASTING JOKE – DO NOT SUBSCRIBE TO THIS
It does not solve the problem.
Very interesting move as this has been a growing problem of people who didn’t farm are harvesting and selling (stealing),good move Delia.
good move indeed!! as usual some folks are apprehensive but….that’s the way it is….i for one will be looking out for these ID cards whenever i’m at the market. Dominicans need to embrace what is right and co-operate in this effort to protect farmers hard work….. we have to much of the attitude of enabling wrong doing…… never want to sow but busy to reap.. who will help me knead the flour….not i said the dog, cat, sheep and pig….but who will be busy to help you eat it?? every Dominican that looking to save a buck by buying stolen produce…. maychaste people !!!! Dominicans will reap what they sow in EVERY WAY!!!!
The same drugs they want to stop, they buying stolen produce from “paros” cheap, after farmers break their back trying to bring their crops to harvest……Dominicans just have a habit of looking the other way when it is convenient, and conveniently selling their fellow nationals short!!!