The most important thing government can do to support business is to provide a degree of certainty with regards to government regulation. That’s why yanking the rug out from under farmers and businesses around the state, with little or no
The most important thing government can do to support business is to provide a degree of certainty with regards to government regulation. That’s why yanking the rug out from under farmers and businesses around the state, with little or no notice only perpetuates Hawai‘i’s reputation for not being “business friendly.”
The layoffs being proposed by the state administration constitutes just such a yanking of the rug.
Gov. Lingle has issued layoff notices to 118 out of 350 Department of Agriculture employees. That’s more than one-third of the permanent workforce. Of the 78 agricultural inspectors, 50 have been given notice. Most are from the Neighbor Islands. Kaua‘i will go from three inspectors to just one. How is the larger infrastructure that supports agriculture to be sustained?
Farmers large and small will be dramatically impacted, both from an increase in destructive pests because of less vigilant inspection and from a severe reduction in the export and import-sustaining bureaucracy. Farmers who import or export produce and fruits, flower growers, cattle ranchers, ornamental growers, and even aquaculture businesses know that their perishable exports and imports will not survive delayed processing for distribution. They will be forced to cut back or get out of the business altogether-and we in the community will, of course, face a reduction in choice and an increase in price.
With agricultural businesses, as with other business sectors, we can and must do better. Farmers around the state cite three elements central to their growth and prosperity: water, labor and land.
Despite daily showers over much of our islands, we do not have a reliable, affordable source of irrigation water. The complex system of irrigation ditches maintained by the sugar plantations has largely withered away as the plantations disappeared. Add to that, competition for water from urban development and from the need to restore natural water flow to streams and rivers and we understand the water shortage in what would otherwise be prime farmland.
The shortage of agricultural labor seen throughout our country is exacerbated in Hawai‘i by our high cost of living, and specifically by the lack of “farm-worker housing.” The historic abuse and development of so-called “fake farms” around the state also drives up the cost of housing on agricultural lands.
All of us have seen the large vistas of open space now lying fallow. Small farmers face numerous hurdles in gaining access to parcels of this land. Much of this land (both privately owned and state owned) is in “large chunks” and lacks roads, water, fencing, etc. Major land owners as well as the state are hesitant to give out long term leases or to sell the land to farmers at affordable prices.
Water, labor, land: all three issues can be resolved with community input, thoughtful legislation, and a focused commitment from the administration.
The state must take a leadership role in funding and managing our irrigation systems. Whether by supporting existing irrigation cooperatives or via direct funding, the core irrigation infrastructure must be treated the way we treat other public infrastructure.
The farm worker housing issue must be resolved via amendments to the law without opening the door to further abuse by those seeking merely to expand their vacation rental businesses.
There are thousands of acres of state land suitable for agriculture that are not being utilized properly. The state Department of Agriculture must be more aggressive in making this land available to local farmers, many of whom tell me that they stand ready today to put that land to good use.
Supporting farms and farmers along with renewable energy and improved public education are fundamental to sustainability and a robust economy.
• Gary Hooser is the Democratic majority leader in the state Senate, representing Kaua‘i and Ni‘ihau.
