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promoting a widerappreciation ofinformation
andknowledgemanagement foragriculturaldevelopmentgenerally and
specifically,support for theIICA/CTA
MEAgrISys project.
#4 of 2007
a collaborative effortof:
Naitram Ramnanan
CaRAPN Memberand:
Diana FrancisTrade Policies and
NegotiationsProgramme
IICA CaribbeanRegion
enabled by:Technical
Centre forAgricultural and
RuralCooperation(CTA ACP)
The Views expressedherein are not necessarilythose of the CTA
and IICA
...... pprrooffeessssiioonnaalliissmm iinn
aaggrriiccuullttuurree!!
In a casual conversation with a Wine Engineer from West Germany
ovacation in the Caribbean prior to the reunification of Germany, I
(Naitram
asked what is the difference between East and West Germany, with
respeto wine making? Her response was in the East they are not
professional anconsequently they are not very efficient. I asked
her to elaborate and shexplained that in her visits to wineries in
the East, (prior to reunification) thattitude was not one of
getting the job done. She explained that as aengineer, if she
needed a part to repair machinery to maintain optimuproduction and
the person responsible for procurement was unable to do it a timely
manner, she would go out and get it. On the contrary, hcounterpart
in the East would wait until the procurement person gets thpart -
in the meantime production suffers. This example was used
demonstrate the primary purpose of professionalism "getting the job
done,
a timely manner and based on accepted standards".
Professionalism is mothan one's educational achievement and
training; it has a lot to do with woattitude and ethics.
There are some notable examples of agri-food Caribbean companies
that havused professionalism as a critical part of their
competitive tool kit and havsuccessfully penetrated and maintained
their space in world markets. Sompopular ones are the Trinidadian
Fruta fruit drinks with its Chubby brand thhas been patented
internationally and currently being marketed in thAmericas, the
Caribbean, Europe and the Middle East and the world famoAngostura
Bitters; Jamaica's Grace Kennedy range of agri-food products th
competes well in the Caribbean and North American Markets; the
GuyaneXM and El Dorado rums that consistently win international
awards for thefine quality. However such success stories of
professionalism and innovatioin agriculture are too few and far
between. We need more!
Crops cannot grow and develop without sunlight, water, air
annutrients. The agriculture sector will not progress in the
absence otrue professionalism in all those involved in its
development procesThis professionalism must exist at the levels:
among producers; theservice providers, including extension, input
suppliers, marketers anresearchers; and policy makers. This
i-bulletin examines the need fus to look inward, at our own
professionalism, as we each play our paand how our collective roles
affect the development of the sector.Juas agriculture is rooted in
the soil, agricultural development rooted in professionalism.
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IInnffoorrmmaattiioonn,,AAggrriiccuullttuurreeaanndd
tthheeRRoollee ooffPPrrooffeessssiioonnaallssTThhee BBiiggggeerr
PPiiccttuurree!!In this new age of powerful competitiveforces in
agri-food markets, falteringpublic confidence in the
Caribbeanagri-food is a clear manifestation of anerosion of
professionalism inagriculture. The Jagdeo Initiative,which seeks to
revitalize agriculture,must make 'revitalizing professionalism'a
central focus of the agriculturecommunity as well.
The Initiative, supported bydevelopment partners, must
encourageand facilitate initiative in redefining aprofessional
code, if it exists, ordefining ones where it does not, thatincludes
guiding principles, to enhanceprofessionalism and practice
goodagriculture at all levels, in the sameway that farmers and
processors arerequired to do, through GAPS, HACCPs,
and other quality assuranceregulations.
Professionalism pertains to theapproach and attitude of those
workingat all levels in a sector to ensure thebest use of the
resources for themaximum good of the society. Forexample, the
fruit-growing region ofChile always had ideal growingconditions for
fruit production.However this did not automaticallytranslate into a
success story in termsof fruit exports. It was only when
thegrowers, researchers and policy makerscame together and defined
some goalsand devised and implemented aprofessional plan did the
success storywas achieved. Professionalism is also achallenge of
changing mindsets andattitudes.
.the general public expects that theagricultural professionals
will seek their
interests in ensuring that policy makers adoptthe right policies
to ensure that food securitywith respect to availability and
affordability
is achieved in the shortest possible time.
In the small democracies of the Caribbean,
professionals almost have no choice in engaging inpolitics, both
as active politicians themselves and inholding politicians
accountable. However, givenCaribbean reality of politics and
governance and thesmall private sector, there has been an
unfortunatesilencing of the professional voice.
Professional associations are however, gaining instrength,
particularly in academia and the private sector.This augers well
for a gradual improvement in thequality, character and conduct of
professionalism in thenational community generally, with positive
spin-offeffects in agriculture. Should this improvement persist
and gain strength, then the result will be much improvedand
effective public policy and public institutionsresponsible for
guiding and facilitating the development
of agriculture. This is the difference between politics
andgovernance.
Collectively, professionals must influence thedecisions and
actions of politicians - essential to goodgovernance - rather than
have their technical decisionsand actions determined by the
expediency of politics -
which is a short-term phenomenon. This can only beachieved by
scrupulously sticking to the principles andthe facts at all times,
and by effectively communicating
these principles and facts to those that make the finaldecision.
The dangers of an alternative conduct are veryobvious in our
societies and communities. The moststartling example is the
conversion of prime agriculturallands across the Caribbean into
non-agricultural uses,which compromises current and future
generations' food
security, livelihoods and general well-being.A functional AKIS
is important to enable all of us to
conduct ourselves with the highest level ofprofessionalism
regardless of our role in the agriculturadevelopment process. The
viable AKIS has a role toeducate the general public to demand that
policy makers
ensure that the agriculture sector is strengthened andwell
resourced to provide for our basic level of foodsafety and
environmental sustainability. The generapublic must also support
the professionals in theexecution of their various roles, and hold
public officersaccountable for their decision and actions.
Therefore thekey players of the health, agriculture, manufacturing
andthe media and information sectors must come together todevelop
an effective information system as a key element
in enhancing professionalism in agriculture
