Shaw commends farmers for consistent supply of food in light of COVID-19 pandemic

Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Audley Shaw, has commended farmers across the country for ensuring that there is a consistent supply of food items in the island in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Speaking at the virtual launch of Farmer’s Month 2020, at the Ministry’s Hope Gardens offices in Kingston on April 9, Mr. Shaw extended commendations to those farmers who donated produce to a relief programme led by the Ministry of Labour and Social Security.
“Over $7.5million worth of crops has been donated by farmers to that Ministry,” he said.
Additionally, Mr. Shaw used the opportunity to praise the farmers for their hard work, enabling the agriculture sector, through the Production Incentive Programme, to record an increase of 7.8 per cent growth in domestic crop production in the last quarter of 2019.
The Minister also expressed gratitude to input suppliers for their various contributions of farmers during this month.

Meanwhile, Mr. Shaw is encouraging farmers to continue the production of crops such as vegetables and fruits, condiment and spices, roots and tubers and field and forest crops, especially as Farmer’s Month is being celebrated.
“Never cease from planting. We look forward to planting season and to work together towards an abundant harvest ahead as we plough the fields and spread the good seeds on the land,” he told them.
First introduced by the Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS) in April 1983, Farmer’s Month, now in its 37th staging, is aimed at recognising farmers for their invaluable contribution to national development.
Although being held at a time when the nation faces the COVID-19 pandemic, the JAS along with the Ministry, the Rural Agricultural Development Authority and input suppliers will be highlighting the importance of farmers to national development.
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