Senator Norman W. Grant, President,
Jamaica Agricultural Society
LAST YEAR was a difficult year for the farmers and by extension the agricultural sector in Jamaica and the region. Noting the devastation as a result of Hurricanes Charley and Ivan, the farmers of this blessed country must be commended and saluted for commencement of the tremendous recovery of the sector less than six (6) months after the passage of Hurricane Ivan.
In saluting Trelawny ABS and all other organisers of the Hague Agricultural I wish to advise that the JAS over the last eighteen (18) months has implemented a number of programmes aimed at re-positioning the JAS itself and by extension the re-positioning of the agricultural sector. Some of these include:
Launch of 'Eat Jamaican' Day Campaign
Passage of Praedial Larceny Bill ( to be implemented)
Hurricane Relief Programme valuing over J$25M
Legal Services
Central Marketing System
DBJ/JAS Tractor Tillage Service
JAS Farmers Training Workshop
Establishment of Alliances
A number of these programmes and initiatives are being implemented with full support and collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and other related agencies.
This year will also be marked a significant year for the farmers with the JAS celebrating its 110th anniversary on May 29, 2005. This will mark the celebration of a number of activities including the 53rd staging of the Denbigh Agricultural Show scheduled for July 30 to August 1, 2005.
So farmers and stakeholders, let us prepare ourselves for the many challenges ahead. We note the implementation of the CSME in February of this year and already the JAS is preparing itself to capitalise on the opportunities that will be presented. We are now a member of the Caribbean Farmers and Non-Government Organisation Network (CaFANN), whose major aim is to work with our farmers in the region to ensure that as primary producers we capitalise on the opportunities and safeguard against any negative implementation.
As we celebrate the 52nd staging of the Hague Agricultural Show under the theme, we are what we eat. Let's 'eat Jamaican'.
Let us march forward with the mandate from the farmers to drive the process of rural development for our rural people.
May God bless us all.
