Agro-InvestNews2019April
12 Apr 2019
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Markets Identified for Local Produce

Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Audley Shaw, says the Government has identified four distinct markets for locally grown foods.

These markets, he notes, are the hotel industry; the CARICOM region, where fresh and processed foods can be exported duty-free; the diaspora, and the national school-feeding programme, which will see children eating fresh foods, instead of imported and often genetically modified foods.

The Minister was delivering the main address at the Clarendon Municipal Corporation-sponsored Clarendon Agro-Economic Symposium, held at St. Gabriel’s Church Hall in May Pen on April 9.

Mr. Shaw said that Jamaicans are being encouraged to use locally grown produce, as this will assist in lowering the food import bill.

The Minister said there is a plan to increase local production, and “we will start with some 30,000 to 40,000 acres of land that will be leased”.

“I am sending a message to all, including those who have land that is now idle – use it or lose it – because we have to ensure the country’s food security,” the Minister said.

The Minister said he is encouraging farmers in need of land to come with a plan, and “we will find creative ways to help you, starting with irrigation systems”.

Mr. Shaw cited the Essex Valley agricultural project in St. Elizabeth, where about 1,000 farmers are being assisted with drip irrigation.

He also noted that farmers in Clarendon and St. Catherine will not be left out, as they will also be helped with small drip irrigation systems.

Meanwhile, the Minister said that agro-processing centres are to be set up across the country and they will be run by private individuals, adding that GraceKennedy will set up an agro-processing centre in Denbigh, Clarendon, very soon.

He said the company will be able to purchase foods from farmers and process them at the centre.

The Minister noted that another centre will be operating from Williamsfield in Manchester, for the processing of fresh foods, so farmers can be certain of markets for all they produce.

Mr. Shaw said that at Lydford in St Ann, there will be a modern agro-processing facility and storage for fresh foods that can be sold to hotels in a timely manner.

He said that through these initiatives, large and small farmers will have the certainty “that what they grow, they will be able to sell”.

Sponsors of the symposium were JAMPRO, GraceKennedy, United Nations Jamaica, H&L Agro, AP&FM Project, JN Small Business Loans, National PC Bank, Agro-Invest Corporation, Social Development Commission and the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA).

Source: https://jis.gov.jm/markets-identified-for-local-produce/

09 Apr 2019
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Major Marketing Drive to Attract Large Investments in Agriculture

The Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries will be embarking on a major marketing and production drive during the 2019/20 fiscal year, in a bid to attract large-scale investments to the agricultural sector.

Portfolio Minister, Hon. Audley Shaw, said this will be spearheaded through several of the Ministry’s agencies, including Jamaica Promotions Corporation (JAMPRO) and the Agro-Invest Corporation (AIC), utilising the Agricultural Incentive Programme as a catalyst.

He said the engagement is among several targeted focus areas for implementation, in recognition of the Ministry’s role as a key driver of economic growth.

The Minister was speaking at the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) inaugural Economic Growth Forum, held at the Terra All-Suite Nova Hotel in St. Andrew, on Thursday (March 14).

Mr. Shaw said the initiatives are being targeted within the context of the national agriculture development strategy, and will serve as catalysts to enhance production and productivity, improve infrastructure as well as support the expansion of businesses, particularly micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs).

He said that although domestic crop production grew by 6.9 per cent during the October to December 2018 quarter, “it cannot be lost on us” that the overall sector grew by just over two per cent during the period.

“Agriculture is the base of growth in our economy, and we have to really focus, in a substantial way, on boosting it,” he added.

The forum featured research paper presentations and a panel discussion on the theme ‘From Elusive to Inclusive Growth’.

It was also used to launch the PIOJ’s 2019 Growth Inducement Programme Research Report, a collection of eight research papers encompassing economic growth-related areas.

These include financial inclusion, tertiary education, labour market developments, and social interventions.

 

Source: https://jis.gov.jm/major-marketing-drive-to-attract-large-investments-in-agriculture/

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