THE ORGANISERS of the annual Montpelier Agricultural Show are promising to make a strong comeback this year after the cancellation of last year's show.
"This year's show will definitely be a double show, as all our exhibitors are expected to double their efforts in ensuring that show patrons get a double treat this year. We have also put plans in place for the doubling of the entertainment package for both the day and night aspects of the show," said Glendon Harris, president of the St. James Association of Branch Societies and vice-president of the Jamaica Agricultural Society.
EMPHASIS ON MARKETING
Already, plans are far advanced for this year's staging, scheduled for March 28 at the Montpelier show grounds in St. James.
The event, which will be staged under the theme 'You are what you eat, eat Jamaican', will be officially launched on February 24 and is expected to cost the organisers some $1.34 million.
Mr. Harris is expecting the agricultural festival to attract about 15,000 patrons and rake in about $2.5 million in profits.
Last year's event was cancelled due to the moko disease, which affected the banana industry mainly in western Jamaica.
As one of the objectives of the show, Mr. Harris said, "We are going to place great emphasis on marketing this year, because we recognise that this is a major
problem among our farmers. We want to educate farmers to make the necessary contacts prior to
the actual starting of their
production."
In addition, he said there will be continued emphasis on highlighting youths involved in agriculture.
