Posted on: Monday, November 1, 2004

EDITORIAL
Right policies can reverse ag decline

Despite a slow but steady growth in Hawai'i's overall agriculture industry, there has been somber news recently for that sector that provides us with fresh Island chicken, beef, pork and eggs.

Staff writer Sean Hao reports that there has been a steady decline in the number of livestock operations in Hawai'i over the past several years, according to a survey conducted by the University of Hawai'i College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources.

There are many reasons for the decline. They include increased competition from major retailers who ship from the Mainland, the cost of land and labor in Hawai'i and the high prices local growers must pay for feed.

It would be easy to say this is a matter for the market to sort out. If stores can get adequate and affordable supplies of basic foodstuffs from the Mainland, why should we worry?

There are several responses to that question.

The first is food security. Yes, when shipping lanes are full and there is no competition from more valuable products for shippers to bring in, we can get our supplies from the Mainland.

But as we have experienced far too many times, the shipping lifeline is easily interrupted. It is critical that isolated Hawai'i be able to provide at least basic levels of foodstuffs here at home.

Also, a vibrant agriculture industry is important to our tourism industry. We need to keep portions of our land open and green.

There is much we can do to reverse the decline in this sector of our agriculture industry, if we have the political will.

First, the state should get off the dime and finish the work of the 1978 Constitutional Convention, which demanded an inventory of critical and important agricultural lands.

The idea is that these lands, once identified, would be set aside in perpetuity and would no longer be subject to the pressures of urbanization.

Then, the counties can help by developing progressive tax policies that reward landowners who keep their properties in agriculture.

And both the state and the counties could do more to help promote a viable local feed or silage industry, which could offset the need to import pricey Mainland feed.

We are becoming increasingly urban. But we cannot afford to abandon our agricultural heritage. With cooperation among farmers, landowners and government, we can ensure that will not happen.