Many of the goods enjoyed in the Cayman Islands are imported. Among them are food products.

Necessities like vegetables and fruits consumed from outlets like supermarkets, are mostly not from here. With the supply and demand for those items seemingly stable, it would appear the impact of locally grown produce on this country is minimal. So the question is what if we couldn’t grow our own food?

A big aspect to consider is farming and growing food have long been a staple of Caymanian life. To take away that ability is akin to stripping away some of Cayman’s culture. Many forefathers used farming to feed their families and passed on a sense of self-worth to be able to eat what was grown. A glimpse of those sentiments can be seen at the main farming expo, the Agricultural Show.

As a young Caymanian, I understand the spirit of independence growing one’s own food can impart. My family in West Bay and Bodden Town saw it as a way of life, a healthy past-time, a source of pride and freedom and an avenue for supplementing their income.

Indeed without the ability to farm, Cayman would have one less potential revenue stream. In the face of a global recession countries are seeking ingenious measures for economic recovery. Cayman is no different.

Government sentiment, from the likes of Deputy Premier Juliana O’Connor-Connolly, points toward pushing agriculture as a major economic factor. O’Connor-Connolly, who also serves as the Minister of District Administration, Works, Lands and Agriculture, states the importance of growing local produce cannot be overlooked.

“Gone are the days when farmers regarded their work as a hobby,” O’Connor-Connolly says. “It is now a full-fledged business that is significantly impacting the country.

“We aim to advance the sector to a point where even after a natural disaster like (Hurricane) Ivan, we can still have at least seven days’ supply of food on-island to meet the population’s needs.”

A side benefit for this government approach could be in education. Farming’s economic impact could resonate with young people, spurring them to have an academic and occupational interest to grow their own food.

In any case the public support for farming as a positive activity seems to be there. Farmers like Joseph Jackman, a former Director of Agriculture here, see a major monetary benefit.

“It benefits the economy as a whole by keeping the dollars here,” Jackman said. “By growing something locally and consuming it you’re supporting the farmers, who in turn spend money to keep their production going. That money goes round and round (the various sectors of) the economy.

“We have to change the attitude of the population. What we get (imported) in the supermarkets is not the best. It’s been sitting on the (US) shelves for weeks. It’s not the same taste and value as local produce. It’s not first grade stuff because they (the exporters) never send us, who they regard as a third-world country, the freshest items.”

Whether agriculture returns to being a pillar of Cayman life remains to be seen. What is for certain is that the inability to grown one’s own food would result in some erosion of the Caymanian spirit.