In a recent speech, veterinarian Dr. Susann O. Smith said she was disappointed there was "not one mention of agriculture'' in the "broad use plan'' for the former military Bases that was recently unveiled by Government.

In the near future, "world power is going to be in the hands of the few who produce food,'' said Dr. Smith, who recently returned from the meeting for non-governmental organisations connected with the United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women, held in China.

Farmer Mr. Roland Hill, Jr. echoed the views of Dr. Smith in in interview with The Royal Gazette .

"Right now the power is oil,'' he said. "But the people that can feed themselves in the future are going to be the people with the power.'' Mr. Hill said the less produce Bermuda has to import, the more the Island's balance of payments picture will improve.

"The amount of money we save would be quite substantial,'' he said. "On the whole, it's not just about saving money. It's about saving the Island in the future.'' In all, about 1,330 acres of land has been returned to Bermuda at four former military Bases: the US Naval Air Station at St. David's, the US Naval Annex and Tudor Hill in Southampton, and the Canadian Forces Station near Somerset.

The broad use plan, prepared by Government with the help of consultants, is expected to provide a rough guide as to how the lands should be used. It sets aside land for uses including recreation, tourism, residential, industrial, and commercial, but not for farming.

Mr. Kevin Monkman, acting director of Agriculture and Fisheries, said he did not believe the Department of Agriculture made any submissions in favour of setting aside some of the land for farming. But he felt very little of the former military land was suitable for growing crops.

Some of the land at the St. David's Base was once used to grow Easter lilies, "but the vast majority of that land...is now built upon''.

Some land might be suitable for higher-technology agriculture or greenhouse growing, but that would be about it, he said.

Most land at the US Naval Annex that was suitable for farming was also built on, he said. He was not sure about Tudor Hill.