MONTEGO BAY: Jamaica will soon be exporting hot pepper and dasheen to Trinidad and Tobago.
State Minister in the Ministry of Agriculture, Labour and Social Security Luther Buchanan says an agreement was reached at the Caribbean Community (Caricom) level for the export of the crops to the twin-island republic.
Addressing the St Ann Agricultural, Industrial and Food Show at the Noranda Bauxite Club in Discovery Bay, St Ann, Buchanan said the agreement will be “a win-win” for both countries, particularly the Jamaican farmers.
He said the move is in keeping with efforts by the Government to increase exports to Caricom markets.
The state minister, in the meantime, commended the farmers of St. Ann for playing a major role in helping Jamaica to achieve its food security targets.
He said that the parish produced approximately 55,348 tonnes of domestic crops last year despite being adversely affected by one of the worst droughts that the country has ever experienced.
The state minister said, too, that the parish’s farmers also contributed significantly to the country’s achievement of over 90 per cent self-sufficiency in Irish potato production in 2014.
“St Ann, which is described as the garden parish, has over 18,000 registered farmers producing crops such as pimento, yam, sweet potato, corn and a wide variety of vegetables as well as livestock farmers who rear cattle, goats and pigs. I commend you for the significant contribution you have made to feeding our nation and to food security,” Buchanan said.
He noted that the agricultural sector contributes seven per cent to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and provides employment for 18 per cent of the labour force.
Also addressing the show were Member of Parliament for South West St Ann Dr Dayton Campbell; Chief Executive Officer of the Rural Agricultural Development Authority Lenworth Fulton; and President of the Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS) Senator Norman Grant.
The third staging of the St Ann Agricultural, Industrial and Food Show was organised by the St Ann Association of Branch Societies of the JAS.
Sponsors included RADA, College of Agriculture, Science and Education, Bureau of Standards Jamaica, National Housing Trust, Coconut Industry Board, and the Pesticide Control Authority.
