Gov’t. committed to working with small farmers- Shaw

Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon Audley Shaw (7th left; Member of Parliament, South Eastern St. Mary, Dr. Norman Dunn (4th left); Member of Parliament, Central St. Mary, Dr. Morais Guy (9th left) and Member of Parliament, St. Thomas Eastern and Opposition Spokesman on Agriculture, Dr. Fenton Ferguson (2nd right back row), pose with the participants of the St. Mary Farm Queen competition. Occasion was the 33rd staging of the St. Mary Agri-Expo under the theme ‘Climate Smart Agriculture, the key to Food Security’, held at Gray’s Inn Sports Complex, Annotto Bay, St. Mary, on April 22, 2019.

Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon Audley Shaw, says that the Government is committed to working with small farmers across Jamaica to become more productive. He informed that one of the major initiatives that he is working on is putting in place small irrigation systems for use by small farmers across the country.

“I am encouraging farmers in need of land to come with a plan, and we will find creative ways to help you, starting with irrigation systems,” Mr. Shaw said.

Speaking at the 33rd staging of the St. Mary Agri-Expo 2019, at the Gray’s Inn Sport Complex, Annotto Bay, St. Mary, on April 22, Mr. Shaw said that Jamaicans are being encouraged to use locally grown produce, as this will assist in lowering the food import bill.

He stated further that there is a plan to increase local production, and “we will start with some 30,000 to 40,000 acres of land that will be leased”.

“I am sending a message to all, including those who have land that is now idle – use it or lose it – because we have to ensure the country’s food security,” the Minister said.
The Minister informed that these initiatives will not work unless the Government is committed to ensuring that when the farmers reap their crops they will be able to sell them and get reasonable prices for them. He said that the only way this can be achieved is to ensure that the agro-processing industry is up and running.

Mr. Shaw further informed that the Government will be working assiduously with the private sector across the country in setting up agro-processing centres, where they will be able to purchase fresh produce from the farmers for processing.

Minister Shaw said that the Government has identified five distinct markets for locally grown foods. These markets, he noted, are the hotel industry; the CARICOM region, where fresh and processed foods can be exported duty-free; the exotic market; the diaspora, and the national school-feeding programme, which will see children eating fresh foods, instead of imported and often genetically modified foods.
“These are the five markets which are going to create wealth among our farmers,” Mr. Shaw added.
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