THE SENATE

S.R. NO.

106

TWENTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2002

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 
   


SENATE RESOLUTION

 

REQUESTING THE GOVERNOR TO APPOINT AN AGRICULTURAL SELF-SUFFICIENCY TASK FORCE TO REDUCE THE STATE'S DEPENDENCY ON IMPORTED AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS THAT COULD BE PRODUCED LOCALLY.

 

WHEREAS, as an island state, our survival is almost totally dependent on imported goods from the mainland and other Asian/Pacific countries; and

WHEREAS, this dependency raises the cost of living and provides employment in places other than Hawaii; and

WHEREAS, the revolution in local diversified agriculture markets has provided the State a unique opportunity to grow a greater selection and quantity of agricultural products to reduce our dependency on agricultural imports; and

WHEREAS, expanding the size of agricultural markets creates more jobs - especially during austere economic times, and provides a needed boost to the local economy; and

WHEREAS, in order for the State to seize this opportunity and become more agriculturally self-sufficient, it must first assess the level of agricultural self-sufficiency that presently exists in agricultural markets; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-First Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2002, that the Governor is requested to appoint an Agricultural Self-Sufficiency Task Force to reduce the State's dependency on imported agricultural products that could be produced locally; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Governor is requested to appoint twenty-five members to the Task Force consisting of members from:

(1) The Agribusiness Development Corporation;

(2) The State Office of Planning;

(3) The Department of Agriculture;

(4) The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands;

(5) The Department of Land and Natural Resources;

(6) The Department of Transportation;

(7) The University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources;

(8) County planning agencies;

(9) The Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation;

(10) The United States Natural Resources Conservation Service;

(11) Native Hawaiian and environmental organizations;

(12) Air and shipping carriers, including inter-island airlines;

(13) Small and large farm owners; and

(14) Other state and county agencies, agricultural workers, business interests, and landowners;

and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Task Force is requested to:

(1) Set goals to significantly reduce Hawaii's dependency on imported agricultural products;

(2) Adopt an action plan to achieve agricultural self-sufficiency including recommending legislation, collective market promotions, and farmers markets, among others;

(3) Coordinate the implementation of the action plan;

(4) Develop the means for measuring the aggregate dollar amount of agricultural products imported and identify agricultural products that can or are locally produced;

(5) Conduct an analysis of the economic benefits of decreasing Hawaii's dependency on imported agricultural products, including the effects on employment, tax revenues, and other aspects of the economy; and

(6) Report on an annual basis to the Legislature;

and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED the Task Force is requested to adopt as one of its goals - the doubling of the percentage of locally grown agricultural products (as of December 31, 2001) by December 31, 2004, or another date if adopted by two-thirds of the Task Force; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Governor, the Chairperson of the Agribusiness Development Corporation, the Director of the State Office of Planning, the Chairperson of the Board of Agriculture, the Chairperson of the Hawaiian Homes Commission, the Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources, the Director of Transportation, the Dean of the University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, the heads of the four county planning agencies, the Director of the U.S. Natural Resources Conservation Service office in Hawaii, the Director of the Hawaii State Farm Bureau, and any other group or organization the Governor may wish to include.

 

 

 

OFFERED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

Requests the Governor to appoint an Agricultural Self-Sufficiency Task Force.