By Devon Evans, Gleaner WriterRUNAWAY BAY, St. Ann:
THE CANADIAN International Development Agency (CIDA) has launched a new development programme that will triple financial assistance to Jamaica's agricultural sector.
The upgraded development policy was disclosed by First Secretary in the Canadian High Commission Vivian Monteith while speaking recently at the graduation ceremony for Rural Women in Agriculture held at the Runaway Bay HEART Hotel in St. Ann.
NEW POLICY
"Through this new policy, CIDA will increase investments in the agricultural sector from a current level of approximately Cdn$95 million Cdn$300 million in the years 2005-2006," said Mr. Monteith. The aim, he said, is Cdn$500 million by 2008.
"In accordance with the investment priorities of the new policy, a positive report on Jamaica's absorptive capacity in the agricultural sector could demonstrate its eligibility for accessing this new source of funding for certain future agricultural projects."
Three quarters of the world's absolute poor live in rural areas, and most often their livelihoods are linked to agriculture, which is also closely linked to other areas such as health, education and water.
POVERTY REDUCTION
Agriculture, said Monteith, is central to poverty reduction, food security and environmental sustainability.
"For these reasons, CIDA is firmly committed to ensuring that agriculture is among the top priorities on its development agenda", he told the graduating ceremony.
The Rural Women in Agriculture training project, which is aimed at certifying some 200 female farmers across the island in new techniques in farming and business, is funded by CIDA through the Caribbean Regional HRD Programme for Economic Competitiveness (CPEC) in collaboration with the Inter American Institute for Co-operation on Agriculture (IICA).
The project was officially launched in February 2003 and is scheduled to be completed by June 2004.
The project is specifically designed to provide training in the use of improved technology for agricultural development, business development, business management and promotion, packaging and labelling, post harvest handling and storage techniques and other current developments as they relate to agricultural production.
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
Mr. Monteith said that the CPEC programme is an important vehicle in helping Jamaica to achieve sustainable development of its agriculture and agri-food industries especially since both sectors were prime industries.
He congratulated the 39 participants from the Northern region for dedicating time and effort toward improving their farming skills.
