Minister without portfolio in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. J.C. Hutchinson.
In an effort to strengthen and modernize the legislation to effectively regulate the trade and movement of agricultural produce, the Agricultural Produce Act is to be amended.
This was disclosed by Minister without portfolio in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. J.C. Hutchinson, in his contribution to the Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives on Wednesday, July 1.
The Minister noted that whilst the proposed amendments to the Act are by no means a panacea to the scourge of praedial larceny, it is anticipated that the direct effects of the amendments will aid in the conviction of persons who have committed acts of praedial larceny.
He said that the recommendations have been made and a submission will be made to the Cabinet soon.
He informed that among the changes being proposed in the new legislation are:
• To expand the definition of agricultural produce to include fish
• To include crops such as castor bean, bamboo, hemp, mushroom, and livestock
• Increase in the fines of up to $3 million and the term of imprisonment of up to one year for praedial larceny
• Changes to the existing Agricultural Produce Receipt to improve traceability systems and,
• Inclusion of an invoice with telephone numbers of the farmer and their taxpayer registration number. Invoices are to be used in consignment arrangements between farmers and purchasers of agricultural produce.
“We are strengthening the legislative framework. We are giving the laws more and sharper teeth so that our farmers can reap far more of what they sow and can benefit from the livestock that they rear,” Minister Hutchinson added.
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