Agriculture Records High Growth

Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Agriculture, Hon. J.C. Hutchinson, says agricultural production recorded tremendous growth over the last two quarters.
“In the quarter up to June, we had an increase over last year of 13.5 per cent. I understand that the figure coming out for the end of September is about 13.9 per cent over last year for that quarter,” he added.
Mr. Hutchinson was addressing members of the Seville Benevolent Society Production and Marketing Organization (PMO) in St. Ann, on October 21.
The Minister is attributing the increase in production to a major shift in the mode of operation between the Government and the farmers.
He said the Government moved to have more farmers operating through organisations such as the production and marketing organisations (PMOs) and benevolent societies, and this has resulted in more benefits and government support reaching the farmers directly.
“We have put on the front burner the production and marketing organisations. These are what we are working through now and we have found that putting the money through the PMOs…that production is increasing,” the Minister noted.
He said the new policy has also resulted in more accountability for the support being given to farmers, as the PMOs are there to ensure that only farmers benefit.
“Once you have organisations and you are able to send the funds directly to them, farmers will use the inputs to increase their production. We are looking to see how we can structure agriculture and we have to do that starting from the base and the base is the farmers. We say to them get involved in the organisations,” the Minister urged.
Meanwhile, Mr. Hutchinson lauded the work of the Seville Benevolent Society PMO to boost agriculture in St. Ann.
“I have heard about this organisation for quite some time and the good work that is being done here. I see that St. Ann has the potential of challenging St. Elizabeth as the bread basket of Jamaica,” he said.
The Seville Benevolent Society Production and Marketing Organization (PMO) is now a registered entity with the Department of Cooperatives and Friendly Societies.
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JIS