Agro fest organiser wants to preserve Jamaican flavours

Gashing fire upon genetical modified food, Jamaican poet and farmer Ras Takura is promoting seed exchanges to preserve authentic Jamaican flavours.

At the launch for his Dis Poem - Wordz and Agro Fest, he told THE WEEKEND STAR, "All of the seeds weh out yah now, is either genetically modified or contaminated in some ways."

He explained that while unfamiliar audiences will not be able to identify traditional seeds, his event, which is slated for April 30 at the College of Agriculture, Science and Education in Portland, will give the public a safe space to learn and exchange seeds.

"We know that there are still traditional seeds in Jamaica, there are still heirloom seeds in Jamaica that different farmers have in their possession. So we with this festival, [we] invite the farmers in Jamaica to take their natural seeds, their third generations seeds, heirloom seeds and practise seed exchange," he said.

He continued, "People might ask the question, 'How you know that a seed has not been genetically modified?' And I would say that when a seed has actually been genetically modified, it only gives you one true crop. And when you try plant a seed from that crop, you don't get a true plant that is able to survive natural conditions. So we are saying to farmers, use this festival to save our traditional seeds. Let us save our natural seeds and practise seed exchanges within the human community because we are losing our food and we are losing our taste within our food."

Along with seeds, the festival will also offer fresh produce and entertainment from poets, including Mutabaruka, DYCR, Steppa and Dr Olive Senior.

Claiming responsibility for preserving Caribbean flavours, Takura said, "Caribbean tastes are Jamaican culture. So Jamaica has a responsibility to I and I culture, whether it be food or music. And I and I Ras Takura in particular, I know seh is my responsibility to do this thing and to have this festival."