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Ag Lands to Intensive Agricultural Lands, which we believe means <br /> the same thing. The Farm Bureau's only concern is the possibility of <br /> confusion if and when the State decides to fulfill its constitutional <br /> obligation of identifying IAL Statewide. Would the State use IAL <br /> (Important Ag Lands) or IAL (Intensive Ag Lands) for Hawaii <br /> County? <br /> The maps of IAL in Draft I includes most of the productive ag lands <br /> in Hamakua that were in sugar, macadamia nuts, and small <br /> ranches. With the Lower Hamakua Ditch soon to become <br /> operational after more than two years of major repairs, much of the <br /> land designated as IAL in Draft I will have the potential of <br /> becoming productive again, not in sugar, but in a wide variety of <br /> high value agricultural activities and projects. A reliable source of <br /> water offers endless opportunities to Hamakuans for farming, <br /> intensive grazing, aquaculture and other ventures. This can only <br /> happen if the Council sees fit to protect one of our island's most <br /> precious resources, our Important Agricultural Land. <br /> In conclusion, we wish to thank former Planning Committee <br /> Chairman, Leningrad Elarinoff, for his effort in trying to produce a <br /> workable County General Plan that is acceptable to the general <br /> public. At least he took the initiative to do something after seeing the <br /> Administration's proposed Draft I languish in the Council's <br /> Planning committee for nearly two years. <br /> We ask that the Committee favorably consider Draft I of the <br /> proposed County General Plan for adoption by the County Council. <br /> Mahalo, <br /> <br /> ~ <br /> y~~dL~l <br /> Robert Shioji <br /> Hamakua County Farm Bureau <br /> <br />