INCENTIVES for landowners are being urgently requested as acres of prime agricultural land sit idle across Barbados.

Chief executive officer of the Barbados Agricultural Society James Paul, made the call last Sunday, while blasting Government for "misguided policies" and urging it to review the incentives that would encourage landowners to return to agriculture.

"The question is: what are these landowners waiting on? It is clear that they must be waiting on something. It is therefore evident that a review of the incentive regime in respect of agricultural lands is required to encourage more landowners to return to agriculture. In addition, a review of the taxation system is required to reduce the incentive of landowners to let lands
lie idle," Paul told a Democratic Labour Party town hall meeting on agriculture at Springer Memorial School.

Saying there was a crisis in land access "invented by the inappropriate and misguided policies of this Barbados Labour Party administration", Paul referred to a NATION article by agriculturalist Dr Frances Chandler who identified some of the largest idle tracts.

These included the 90-acre Exchange Plantation in St Thomas, Alleynedale Plantation in St Peter, a large portion of the 80-acre Ebworth Plantation in St Peter, Cottage Plantation and Golden Ridge in St George,Vaucluse, Walkes Spring, Hopewell, Blowers, Ayshford, Plum Tree, Turner's Hall and Content, all in St Thomas; the 121-acre Haynes Hill and Bath plantations in
St John, Bawden, River, Sedgepond and Swan in St Andrew, along with Waterford in St Michael, and Farm in St George.

"Some of the richest soil in the country – once vibrant fields – are devoid of commercial crops," Paul said.

He also berated the continued loss of land to wealthy foreigners, stating "the unique circumstances of an island nation should not allow it to go to the highest bidder". (RJ)