Barbados Agricultural Society CEO Raises Concerns Over Illicit Farm Imports Amid Bird Flu Outbreaks

The head of the Barbados Agricultural Society (BAS) has alleged that illicit farm products are being imported into Barbados, raising concerns among farmers in light of fresh bird flu outbreaks in the United States.

BAS Chief Executive Officer James Paul told Barbados TODAY that while farmers were not worried about the likelihood of legally imported products contaminating the domestic supply, the real concern was about imported produce sold on the black market.

He was responding to reports that the ministries of health and agriculture were monitoring the situation in the United States, where a poultry facility in Michigan and an egg producer in Texas both reported outbreaks of avian flu.

The BAS boss stressed the seemingly rampant illegal importation of goods posed a serious risk to the safety and viability of Barbadian farming.

“What . . . we have to be careful of is that our border protection works,” Paul said. “That is something, again, that a lot of people do not understand; the illegal importation of agricultural produce is the greatest worry that we have, where, for instance, people seek to bring in agricultural produce, they do not go through the normal protocols or get the normal permission that they are supposed to, and they unwittingly, and stupidly, bring in something here that can do tremendous damage to the industry.

“When you look and see what has happened, most of the damage to our local agriculture crops and livestock has happened because of the reckless behaviour of people who bring things into this country without getting the necessary permission. Then, of course, what happens? It has dire consequences as a result,” Paul said.

He added that he has witnessed first-hand some seemingly illegal imported produce, though he has yet to verify how it bypassed checks.

Looking ahead to the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in June, Paul cautioned government officials against buckling under pressure from businesses seeking to import produce despite the available local supply. “I know that the World Cup is on and people are going to try to use that as an opportunity to bombard the minister, saying that the local poultry sector can not supply this and supply that as an excuse and a way of forcing the government to grant important licences for the importation of certain commodities,” he said. “I am calling on the government, please resist this effort.”

Paul accused some “unscrupulous importers” and “unscrupulous business operators” of only caring about their own profits at the expense of Barbadian producers.

“Please ignore them, and refuse to grant those licences,” the BAS boss urged the government.

shamarblunt@barbadostoday.bb