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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.C.R. NO. |
177 |
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TWENTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE, 2009 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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HOUSE CONCURRENT
RESOLUTION
REQUESTING THE Department OF AGRICULTURE TO EXPLORE AND DEVELOP incentives and PREFERENCES FOR SMALL FARMERS TO ALLOW THEM TO EXPAND AND CONTINUE TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE FOOD SELF-SUFFICIENCY OF THE sTATE.
WHEREAS, agricultural sustainability and food self-sufficiency are an increasing concern for the people of Hawaii due to our overwhelming dependence on imported food which is exacerbated by the volatile international oil market and the increasing costs of international transportation; and
WHEREAS, food grown locally has been principally produced by small farmers and not by large-scale, fossil fuel-dependent, export-oriented agribusinesses; and
WHEREAS, a "small farmer" is defined as a person who:
(1) Is a natural individual or a cooperative or group of not more than five natural individuals;
(2) Owns or leases or has owned or leased land and has engaged in agricultural activities on the land;
(3) Has a proven farming ability;
(4) Devotes at least seventy per cent of that person's time to farming; and
(5) Grows and sells at least eighty per cent of the crops that person produces within the State; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Agriculture has the authority to plan, develop, and manage agricultural parks and non-agricultural park lands transferred to the department from the Department of Land and Natural Resources; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-fifth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2009, the Senate concurring, that the Department of Agriculture is requested to explore and develop incentives and preferences that may be granted to small farmers to allow them to expand and continue to contribute to the food self-sufficiency of the State; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Agriculture is requested to report its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature not later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2010; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a certified copy of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Chairperson of the Board of Agriculture.
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OFFERED BY: |
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Small farmers