06-18-2018, 06:54 AM
(H. Tribune)
"Lori Farrell, administrator with Hawaii Farmers and Ranchers United, said as many as two-thirds of papaya farmers on the island could be impacted. While government programs offer low-interest loans and some grants to farmers affected by natural disasters, they also need land to stay in business, she said..........................
“If we do not open up more land, we got nowhere to put these guys,” she said."
response from our State:
"Phyllis Shimabukuro-Geiser, deputy director for the state Department of Agriculture, said agricultural parks on the island are mostly full with tenants.
Money for a feasibility study to develop an ag park between Hawaiian Beaches and Hawaiian Paradise Park was released last year, but that she said that could take a couple years to complete. "
Perception;
news conferences suggest our elected officials want to help our displaced farmers and are working on solutions
Reality
Existing ag parks are mostly full.
On the proposed ag park between Beaches and HPP , a feasibility study is required, money was released for the study last year, appearantly no one has asked to commence the study nor does it appear that it will even be fast tracked.
"Lori Farrell, administrator with Hawaii Farmers and Ranchers United, said as many as two-thirds of papaya farmers on the island could be impacted. While government programs offer low-interest loans and some grants to farmers affected by natural disasters, they also need land to stay in business, she said..........................
“If we do not open up more land, we got nowhere to put these guys,” she said."
response from our State:
"Phyllis Shimabukuro-Geiser, deputy director for the state Department of Agriculture, said agricultural parks on the island are mostly full with tenants.
Money for a feasibility study to develop an ag park between Hawaiian Beaches and Hawaiian Paradise Park was released last year, but that she said that could take a couple years to complete. "
Perception;
news conferences suggest our elected officials want to help our displaced farmers and are working on solutions
Reality
Existing ag parks are mostly full.
On the proposed ag park between Beaches and HPP , a feasibility study is required, money was released for the study last year, appearantly no one has asked to commence the study nor does it appear that it will even be fast tracked.