DENBIGH, Clarendon:
SENATOR NORMAN Grant, president of the Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS), announced yesterday at the 52nd Denbigh Agri-Industrial Show, near May Pen, central Clarendon, that his organisation had forged an agreement with the Food for the Poor charity to assist needy farmers.
He said that under the agreement, Food for the Poor would be providing plants seeds and other important agricultural inputs to farmers. In addition, the JAS would recommend to Food for the Poor, those farmers who were in need of housing assistance.
"It is certainly a move to see to rural development," Senator Grant said.
George Thompson, project director for Food for the Poor, said his organisation was prompted to make the agreement with the JAS on examining the difficulties that some farmers experience in making a livelihood from agriculture.
"We are saying we are going to teach you to feed yourself today and the other day and the other day," he said.
According to Mr. Thompson, as part of the programme, the Rural Agricultural Development Authority will provide training in agricultural practices for farmers.
"This will help to lift their level of productivity. It will help them to recognise the importance of quality control," he said.
He did not specify the cost of the programme but said it would be a substantial amount of money.
- Damion Mitchell
