Minister reiterates that agriculture will contribute to growth

Hon. Karl Samuda, Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, has reiterated his belief that the agriculture sector will make a significant contribution to Government’s growth agenda.

The Minister who was speaking at the AMCHAM Jamaica Breakfast Forum, held at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel on Friday March 31, 2017, noted that figures already indicate that the agriculture sector has grown by 12.6 per cent for 2016.

He further added that he had made a declaration at the Denbigh Agricultural Show that the Ministry of Agriculture alone will contribute 3% of the 5% that we expect to have in 4 years.

“I have not seen anything to dissuade me from that thought. The only thing that I am relying on is that everybody else will do well so that hopefully, we will surpass the 5% goal that we have set for ourselves. It is possible,” Minister Samuda said.

The Minister stated that this goal is not far-fetched if we approach doing business in a non-conventional way with new techniques, introduction of new technology, new thinking, new strategies and new models of doing business.

He further added that one of the reasons that we have been achieving success is because we have been fortunate enough to have collaboration and interaction with the leaders of the private sector, the holders of capital.

“We have sought to forge partnerships with the farming, manufacturing and the business communities, shifting the emphasis from relying heavily on import,” Minister Samuda said.

He stressed that 90% of what comprises manufacturing relates to the agri-industry, and too often we overlook the fact that our agro-industrial sector is among the most powerful sector in the country employing the majority of our workers. This, he said is the sector to which we have to look to for innovative ways of creating products that can attract markets in Europe and North America.

Minister Samuda said that the Ministry he represents contributes to 45% of the total employed labour force and also contributes 33% to the Gross Domestic Product.

“We employ through the various aspects of interest groups namely – the distributive trade, agriculture, manufacturing and, small business, and are responsible for in actual numbers of over 500,000 people.

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Contact:
Director, Communication & Public Relations
Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries
Hope Gardens, Kingston 6
T – 618-7128; E: pr2@micaf.gov.jm; daoconnor@micaf.gov.jm
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