Former sugar cane workers to be allocated land in St. Thomas

Several former sugar cane workers will soon benefit from the initial allocation of some 400 acres of land in St. Thomas for the cultivation of cash crops.
“Agriculture is the lifeline of this country and there is no doubt that it is we, the small farmers, that have been keeping it going,” said the Hon J.C. Hutchinson, Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries.
Minister Hutchinson was addressing farmers at the St. Thomas Technical High School on July 3, where he stated that St. Thomas was one of several areas where lands were being allocated to small farmers to include Long Pond in Trelawny and Holland in St. Elizabeth.
“The small farmers are the ones who will benefit from these lands that are going to be distributed by SCJ Holdings through the All-Island Cane Farmers’ Association,” he assured the farmers.
Minister Hutchinson further stated that the second agro-economic zone will be established at Long Pond and the third in St. Thomas to facilitate grading, packaging, processing of the small farmers’ produce.
He also said that several agro-processors have expressed interest in assisting with the marketing of the produce and encouraged the farmers to go into production immediately.
Meanwhile, Managing Director of SCJ Holdings, Joseph Shoucair, said that 400 acres of lands have been earmarked initially for the growing of cash crops and more can be added, if required.
“These are agricultural lands; they are to be used for agricultural purposes, not for building of houses and commercial activities,” Shoucair emphasised.
Some 65,000 acres of former sugar cane lands across the island, managed by SCJ Holdings, are being transitioned into other agricultural activities and industries.