Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Audley Shaw says that the transformation of Jamaica’s agricultural sector will require greater diversification of the industry.
In order to do this, Minister Shaw said, the sector needed to embark on an aggressive programme of diversification of the use of available sugar lands for other industrial crops.
“This includes working with our small farmers for this to be successful. We have to get them involved,” said Minister Shaw.
Minister Shaw was speaking at a courtesy call with Dr. Gillian Smith, Assistant FAO Representative for Programmes in Jamaica, The Bahamas and Belize at his New Kingston office on June 19, 2018.
The Minister and Dr. Smith held discussions on the strengthening of relations between Jamaica and the FAO through the development of new opportunities and other areas in the agricultural sector such as irrigation and reforestation. Minister Shaw also gave an update on his recent mission to Rome where he had several meetings with the Director General, FAO, José Graziano da Silva. He informed that some of the issues discussed with the Director General were the blue economy, deep sea fishing, the urgent need for reforestation, the planting of 5 million fruit trees over five years and the strengthening of the FAO office in Jamaica.
In the meantime, Dr. Smith said that the FAO has been walking the path of development with Jamaica for many years and was committed to continuing on this path.
“Much of our work has been in agriculture and fisheries. What I really want to let you know, today, is that we are here to continue the work. The FAO is prepared to continue to support Jamaica in any way possible and, anything you would like us to do here on the ground as we seek to continue this partnership,” Dr. Smith said.
Over the years, the Government and people of Jamaica have enjoyed a meaningful partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and have collaborated on several interventions in line with FAO’s strategic objectives.
Dr. Smith was accompanied by Senior Economist, FAO, Cristian Mielitz Netto and Communication Consultant, FAO, Chrishane Williams.
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