Building a Better Jamaica

PATRICK FOSTER, Observer writer fosterp@jamaicaobserver.com
Thursday, June 12, 2008

MINISTER of Agriculture Dr Christopher Tufton says Jamaica's farmers, who have been positioned against their counterparts in other parts of the world because of liberalisation, could benefit from the global food crisis.

The minister, who spoke at yesterday's official launch of the 2008 Denbigh Agricultural and Industrial Show, scheduled for August 1 to August 3, said that while the landscape is not level, the increase in global food prices has created some advantages for local farmers.

".With all the talk of a global food crisis, while it is a reality, it offers local farmers some opportunity to increase their production," the minister said.

The tourism sector, Tufton said, was one possible market. "We are importing too many things to feed the tourists," he said.

But, according to Tufton, the island's farmers will have to embrace the use of modern technology to overcome the challenges of inconsistency in output of quality and quantity, as the days of the hoe and machete are outdated.
"Technology is the foundation if we are to take advantage of these opportunities," he told the gathering at the ACE/Hi-Pro grounds at White Marl, St Catherine.

"The only way to get young people involved is if we log on to technology," the agriculture minister added.
Tufton, in the meantime, urged farmers to register with the appropriate agencies to facilitate proper assessment of the sector and assistance in time of disaster.

The minister said that the number of farmers registered in the island varied according to the agency giving the information.

He said the Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS) had just over 90,000 farmers on register, the Electoral Office of Jamaica had 170,000, while Statin gave a figure of 200,000 farmers in the island.

"What figure do you use in planning?" the minister questioned.

"If you are not registered, then you have no access to assistance," he said.

JAS President Norman Grant said that the staging of the Denbigh Show would cost about $33.4 million this year.
He reiterated the "eat what you gro, grow what you eat" mantra, saying that agriculture was the root on which an industrial thrust should be built.

"It's time we move away from the sector concept and create an industry," Grant said. "Agriculture is the root, and industry the fruit," he said, explaining that agriculture should lead to a vibrant agro-processing industry in the island.