HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

446

TWENTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE, 2017

H.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

S.D. 1

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR A DIVERSIFIED AGRICULTURAL PARK.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 


     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that agriculture continues to play a very important role in the State's economy, adding $2,900,000,000 to the State's annual gross state product and generating some forty-two thousand direct and indirect jobs.  Although the pineapple and sugar industries have declined over the past several decades, the opportunity exists for smaller farms growing diversified and sustainable crops to grow and fill this void, with their agricultural products being sold not only in the State's marketplaces but also in marketplaces around the world.  One crop that could help fill this gap is industrial hemp, which the University of Hawaii has found to have the potential to be very successful in this State.  There are numerous other crops that could also play a large role in the State's economy.

     The growth of many smaller farms would also provide numerous new job opportunities for local workers across a wide array of job classifications, while also helping to maintain the State's existing green spaces.

     The department of agriculture currently administers ten agricultural parks on the islands of Oahu, Hawaii, Kauai, and Molokai.  Through these agricultural parks, the department makes agricultural land available for small farmers to lease at a reasonable cost for a long-term tenure.  Farmers taking advantage of this program are engaged in the production of diversified agricultural crops or aquaculture and are small-scale enterprises, farming no more than twenty acres each.  The legislature finds that agricultural parks provide an excellent opportunity to support local farmers who engage in diversified agriculture and create valuable jobs.

     With the recent closure of the State's last sugar plantation on the island of Maui, and the expressed desire of Maui residents to continue to support agriculture on the island, the legislature believes that Maui is an appropriate place to nurture the growth of small, sustainable farms that would be able to employ some of the agricultural workers who have been affected by the plantation's closure.

     The purpose of this Act is to support sustainable farming, diversified agriculture, and job creation by appropriating funds for the acquisition of land, planning, design, and construction of an agricultural park in South Maui that could be used for diversified crops, including industrial hemp.

     SECTION 2.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $           or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2017-2018 for the acquisition of land, planning, design, and construction of an agricultural park in South Maui that could be used for diversified crops, including industrial hemp.

     The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of agriculture for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 3.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2017.

 


 


 

Report Title:

Maui; Diversified Agriculture; Industrial Hemp; Agricultural Park; Appropriation

 

Description:

Makes an appropriation for the acquisition of land, planning, design, and construction of an agricultural park in South Maui.  (SD1)

 

 

 

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