Question of the week: The Role of the Agri-Food Sector

Congrats! This will be the last post that you are expected that you will be graded on. Feel free to utilize the blog in your studies for exams. Your Link List to the left has also been updated .Here is your final Question of the Week:

many persons, yourself included, are simply unaware of where their food comes from. Agriculture and food systems involve many parts if not all of the overall economy. This is simply because food is a necessity. All living things must eat. And of course in order to create food agriculture is needed. All food no matter its form (i.e. manufactured, chemically produced/altered, processed. fast food etc) stems from an agricultural product. Take a quick look at this video series via the links below:

FDTV Series1 Ep.8 Pt.1 - Farming and Agriculture in Antigua

FDTV Series1 Ep.8 Pt.2 - Farming and Agriculture in Antigua

FDTV Series1 Ep.8 Pt.3 - Farming and Agriculture in Antigua

What are the key areas of the agri food system illustrated in this example?

Question of the week - Family structure and Households in the Caribbean

We should all be aware of the stereotypes that exist in our society. One of the most prominent is that of the absent father or male figure of the Caribbean household. Despite this there are many examples of the opposite taking place. For example, the social networking site Facebook plays host to "Caribbean Man" - a space for Caribbean men to talk about who they are, who they want to be and what it means for Caribbean culture. Participants are made up of proud fathers and male role modes of communities in the Caribbean. 

The other end of the spectrum is that of Matriarchal/Female lead households. Many simply expect that a single parent family will be lead by a female individual. It is believed that children within such a situation may not have a male role model with which to learn societal responsibilities.

Comment on the impact of absentee males and the matriarchal/female led household for modern day society in the Caribbean.

Here's a brief reading on Caribbean Family's - http://family.jrank.org/pages/208/Caribbean-Families-Conclusion.html

   

Question of the Week: Small Scale Farming

Small Scale Farming faces several issues which are debilitating and prevent the sector from reaching its full potential. Factors such as limited capital resources for investment and a lack of technical knowledge are examples of these issues. What are the features or characteristics of small scale farming that have been influenced by people who were slaves and indentured laborers?

The Origins of Movements of Labour

This short video briefly explains how Movements of Labour came into existence. These groups began decades ago and have evolved into a necessity in today;s working world. Check out the Link List to the left of the blog, for additional resources on this topic. NB: The title of this video is incorrect. The video centers on Movements of Labour.

Question of the Week: Peasantry!

Take a look at the previous blog post. In addition to what you have done in class answer the question below. The role of peasantry vastly contributed to the development of Caribbean agriculture and society and economic diversification. Discuss. To what extent is this true? Why are so many Caribbean economies in trouble (while a few seem to be doing better)  if we all shared the same evolution . Provide lots of examples in your discussion.

Word Limit - 250 - 300 words

Remember, if you post your comment please wait sometime for it to be uploaded.

Modern Day Peasantry!

For the Caribbean region there were specific constraints to the development of peasantry and small farmer holdings. Take a look at the video below for more:

Additionally, modern day peasantry  and the negative effects it carries are as much a reality today as plantation economics. The effects which such economies have on a people may not be as server in comparison to the current setting of agricultural structure in developing countries across the world. The following provides a prime example of such: 

Question of the week: Plantation Society

The  Plantation is an organized process of production that operate as a community with a rigid system of social stratification. How has the social system under plantocracy resulted in the quality of work that descendants of slaves have to/are performing today? Given such restrictions and order of the plantation system itself, in what ways could labourers have taken advantage of the systems?

NB: Once you have made your comment the a notification will be sent to the system. If you do not see you comment published, do not be alarmed, it will appear sometime afterwards.
- Word limit 250 - 300 words
- References should be made using The Chicago Manual of Style

The Long-Lasting effect: Plantation Economies

The Definition of Plantation Economies is quite straightforward. Much of what you learn is set in history and cannot be changed. Listen to this quick recap on Plantation Economies.

However, history has a long lasting effect on a nation's economy . There are plantation economies or similar societies that exist in the world today. For instance, one of the key features of plantation economies is monoculture meaning the mass production of one agricultural crop. In St. Vincent and the other Windward islands this practice was continued on to present day. Although many other crops such as sweet potato and dasheen are prevalent banana is the major crop. The Windward islands enjoyed good trade relations in the export of their banana crop. This refers to the 'Preferential treatment' they received from the European Union (EU), in that their agri product would be imported into the EU market before that of other competitors such as Costa Rica and Ecuador.  However with the onset of trade liberalization endorsed and encouraged by the World Trade Organization, this special treatment was revoked, leaving the economy of the Windward island depleted. With no available markets with which these Caribbean islands could compete in, the banana industry quickly receded and is struggling to survive today. 

This is as a result of  practicing aspects of the plantation economy. See the video below for another example with even harsher consequences.

The Plantation System:A review

The Plantation System as an Economic and Social Unit

A system of agricultural production with respect to its export orientation and foreign ownership (external dimension)  

A social institution (internal dimension)

An economic unit producing agricultural commodities (field crops or horticultural products, but not live stock) for sale and employing a relatively large number of unskilled labourers whose activities are closely supervised. Plantations usually employ a year round labour crew of some size, and they usually specialize in the production of only one or two marketable products.

Plantation system refers to the totality of institutional arrangements surrounding the production and marketing of plantation crops. A settlement institution i.e. bringing together enterprise, capital and labour from around the world to a new location were land is cultivated into a particular staple.

A unit of authority with control over all aspects of the lives of people within its territory.

Re-introducing Carib. Agric. in Perspec.

I trust that you have attended your first full lecture for the class. By now Dr Ganpat has explained the concepts to be taught in the class and started on the first topic: Plantation systems in the West Indies. Here is a quick re-introduction to the subject:

Guidelines!

The first part of the course will be blogged here at CaribbeanAgri.blogspot.com For the next five weeks you are expected to visit this website and participate in the discussion and activity that occurs. Each week a question will be posted. You, the student, must use your critical thinking skills to give an insightful and in depth answer of 250 words. In order to do this you should:

• Attend your lectures.
• Read the supporting material
• Utilize the web resources posted on the blog

This online exercise will be marked. Each question is worth three marks for a total of 15 marks. You must provide your answer via a comment on the relevant post, by the end of the week. For example, a question will be posted on "Peasantry Development" on Monday 10th September. You must provide your answer by Sunday 16h September. In other words each Sunday for the next five weeks will be the deadline to submit your answer. Any comments submitted to the relevant post, after this time will not be accepted for that week and you will not receive your marks for that corresponding week.

To submit your answer:

Submit your answers by leaving a comment under the Question of the Week. To submit:

1. Under each post you will see the link to "Comments" Click it.
2. A comments box will appear prompting you to "Post a comment"
3. Underneath this space you will see "Comment as" with a drop down menu option next to it.
4. Click the down arrow and a menu will appear. Select "Anonymous"
5. Enter your answer in the comments section using the following format:

         Your answer of 250 words.
         Name
         Student ID

Once finished and reviewed, click "Publish" and your done.

You are free to post on a previous comment. Simply indicate which comment you are referring too. Exercise proper etiquette while posting. Obscene language, Capital letters and other improper behaviour will not be tolerated.

Any questions please email me at keron.bascombe@my.uwi.edu