Members of the Cayman Islands Agricultural Society are fed up with what they say are 'lack of value for money' overseas trips made by Ministry of Agriculture and Department of Agriculture officials.

At the society monthly meeting at the Stacy Watler Pavilion in Lower Valley on Monday night, several members questioned their board on the matter, saying they were not benefiting in any way.

Some farmers noted that those government officials attended numerous trade shows and workshops but no results have been seen in agriculture, instead thousands of dollars have been wasted. 

One farmer lamented that the society members had to pay their overseas bills while the public servants had all expenses paid trips with some living like they were on honeymoon, he said.

He added that despite the farmers doing the hard work they were getting nothing from it, saying that the time had come to harmonise relations to change the status quo.

Some members also questioned the attendance of officials at regional and international agricultural shows. One man said: "Every year it is the same gang."  

Another farmer said that members of the society also went to agricultural shows but they were of no use to the farmers because the officials brought back nothing, stating that they maybe went on vacation.

That is not always the case and there have been slide presentations and reporting done, according to 1st Vice President of the Agricultural Society, James Sherieff, who presented a report on a Bermuda trip.

However the general theme of the two-hour meeting was that Department and Ministry should be doing more to assist farmers and those involved in agricultural production.

"Farmers are going down, this is where the Department of Agriculture should be helping," said one of the close to 30 farmers who were present at the event. 

Modernisation of the sector was also an important talking point as the gathering pondered ways to improve their field operations. For example, one person wanted to have an instrument to tell when a cow is in heat.

President of the Agricultural Society Errol Watler responded by saying that "things are changing" with the board working with the Minister of Agriculture Hon Kurt Tibbetts.

He disclosed that Mr Tibbetts, the Leader of Government Business, has been having quarterly meetings with his group in a bid to develop agriculture in the Cayman Islands.

Two other gripes the farmers had were too much bureaucracy and having to beg for their needs.

"I'm tired of bureaucracy it's my enemy," said one man, while another individual said, "we need to know what we're entitled to from Government."

Mr Watler said the government bodies must disseminate information to the society as it relates services and benefits to farmers.   

There is an ongoing struggle to find local labour but obtaining that service from Jamaica has been complicated by the new immigration requirements, according to a farmer.

The President urged his members not to totally rely on Government because they have a responsibility to do some things for themselves and they should get up and do them. 

The farmers voted overwhelmingly to seek Government's assistance in acquiring an excavator to handle areas of hard rock, especially in the East End area of Grand Cayman.

Members were updated on plans for a new photo identification system for obtaining a licence from the Ministry of Agriculture and drew up a list of matters to be discussed with the minister.

One request will be permission to access government pastures to find grass to feed the private livestock.   

On 31 July 2006, the Cayman Islands Agricultural Society holds its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the Stacy Watler Pavilion.