Answering the marketing question
Marjorie Henry, Contributor

In the last lesson, I started to discuss question seven from the June 2007 CSEC paper. I will continue with the discussion today by going on to section (b) (ii) of the question. Here, you are asked to outline ONE problem associated with marketing which is faced by Caribbean farmers. Here are some possible ones:

• Proximity to the market. Farms are sometimes far away from the market source and this can result in the spoilage of perishable products.
• The means by which the produce is transported. Inadequate means of transportation can cause the bruising of the produce. Poor roads can also contribute to this.
• The cost to transport the produce to the market. This, at times, can be very high.
• Excess in the supply of any produce is referred to as a glut. A glut results in low prices, which in turn leads to a loss to the farmers or smaller profits. This is not viable in the end.
• Increased competition from other countries that can produce more cheaply and on a larger scale.
• Imported produce are sometimes cheaper and therefore, consumers choose to purchase these.
• Reduction of quotas by the European Union (EU) which leads to a loss of income to the farmers.
• The removal of specific considerations by the EU as a result of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) ruling. This will also result in a loss of income for farmers, as prices are being reduced.

In section (c) of the question, you are asked to make a comparison of commercial arable farming, that is, the growing of crops for export, in a named Caribbean territory with wheat farming in the Canadian prairies, under specific headings. You must give the name of a specific Caribbean territory in your response. Do not generalise as you will lose marks. I have used a table format to discuss the situation in the two regions for comparison. I would strongly recommend, however, that in the final examination, you use the essay style of writing this comparison question rather than the tabular format. (See table below)

Please note that in writing about harvesting, you need to state how and when it is done. Also, in comparing labour, you should state the type of labour and the activities they are engaged in at a particular time of the year.

St Hugh's High Sixth-form students react to a performance from their schoolmate at a gospel concert put on by Kingston College's ISCF recently. - Anthony Minott/Freelance Photographer

Marjorie Henry is an independent contributor.