Farmers and vendors have welcomed Prime Minister Mia Mottley’s call for Massy Supermarkets to introduce formal contract buy-in arrangements with farmers, backed by a government pledge of $2m a quarter, saying it could offer producers long-sought certainty over markets for their crops.
The Barbados Association of Retailers, Vendors and Entrepreneurs (BARVEN) endorsed the proposal, arguing that guaranteed markets and stronger organisation within the farming community are essential if Barbados is to expand agricultural production, strengthen food security and grow its agro-processing sector.
Speaking at the reopening of the Massy Stores Worthing branch in Christ Church on Monday, following a $46m investment, Mottley urged the supermarket chain to make contract buy-in a formal part of its operations. She argued that farmers could not be expected to increase production based on the mere possibility that supermarkets might purchase their crops.
The Prime Minister also announced that the government would provide $2m per quarter to support contract buy-in efforts. The funding is intended to allow the Barbados Agricultural Development and Marketing Corporation (BADMC) and Export Barbados to work with Massy and other stakeholders to help accelerate the development of the agro-processing industry.
BARVEN president Alister Alexander said: “We commend the Prime Minister for her call for Massy to make contract buy-in a formal part of its operations. Her argument is clear and correct: farmers need guaranteed markets and greater financial stability if Barbados is to expand its agricultural base.”
He added that the quarterly funding commitment demonstrated the government’s willingness to move beyond discussion and support practical solutions.
Alexander noted that the initiative builds on discussions held several years ago between Mottley, BARVEN and farmers on creating a more organised approach to agricultural production and distribution.
“That plan recognised that individual effort alone cannot secure the future of agriculture,” he said.
According to Alexander, stronger farmer organisations are critical to the plan’s success: “Contract buy-in, agro-processing, export markets and guaranteed purchase agreements require scale, standards and coordination. Exactly what structured farmer organisations provide.”
Former BARVEN vice-president Erskine Forde also welcomed the proposal as a potential solution to longstanding frustrations experienced by producers seeking access to supermarket shelves.
Some retailers make promises to buy produce but fail to follow through, while others work with only a small group of suppliers, he said.
As rising costs have made farming increasingly difficult, Forde suggested that guaranteed purchasing agreements would provide much-needed certainty.
“If farmers know they have a market for their crops, they don’t have to look around wondering who is going to buy them.”
Contract buy-in would allow farmers to focus more on production and less on finding buyers, creating a more sustainable environment for agricultural growth, he added.
(SB)
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