John Myers Jr., Staff Reporter
JIMMY JACKSON of Negril, Westmoreland, has been chosen as this year's National Champion Farmer, one of the main competitions staged annually at the Denbigh Agricultural and Industrial Show, scheduled for July 30 to August 1 in Denbigh, Clarendon.
Derrick Vermont, chairman of the National Champion Farmer competition explained that Mr. Jackson won the prestigious farmers' title following a rigorous inspection period, which included 89 farms across the island.
The title of 'champion farmer' is awarded based on a number of set criteria, including the layout of the farm, quality of record keeping, efficiency, innovations in farming, capital management and marketing. In addition, farmers - male or female - must be Jamaican and must own the property or have a long-term lease on which the farming activity is carried out to be eligible.
CASH PRIZES
Farmers competing for the prizes are grouped into different classes according to the size of their farms.
As the island's top farmer, Mr. Jackson, who operates from two properties on 1,600 acres in the resort area of Negril, will receive the top prize of $60,000 and an additional $12,000 for placing first in his category. Mr. Jackson rears about 1,000 head of cattle 500 pigs, 500 goats, 5,000 laying hens, 5,000 broiler chickens, along with several acres of banana, plantain, mango, coconut, and pear. Mr. Jackson uses the produce from his farm in the two hotels he also owns in the resort town.
"What I love about (his farm) is the tourism/agriculture relationship because you know we are trying to push this (and) here's a man doing it on his own without anybody prompting him," Mr. Vermont remarked.
Patricia Isaacs-Green, the former owner of the McDonald's fast-food franchise, was awarded the first runner up spot and $35,000 for her 20-acre farm based in Claremont, St. Ann. Mrs. Issacs-Green also received the sectional prize of $10,000 for the most innovative farmer and $12,000 for placing first in Class B.
The second runner-up spot was awarded to Michael Buggam from Middlesex, St. Elizabeth. As the third place awardee Mr. Buggam received $25,000 for his 60-acre farm and $12,000 for being awarded first place in Class C.
