John Myers Jr., Staff Reporter
Agriculture Minister Roger Clarke (centre) exchanges pleasantries with Graham Dunkley, director-general of the Coffee Industry Board, before the start of a luncheon to review the performance of the agricultural sector during the past year. The event was held at the Courtleigh Hotel, New Kingston, yesterday. At left is Christopher Levy, vice-president of poultry operations at the Jamaica Broilers Group. - RUDOLPH BROWN/CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER
AGRICULTURE MINISTER Roger Clarke said the government has put together an enterprise team to examine proposals of interest for the Bernard Lodge and Long Pond sugar factories that are to be taken out of operations.
Minister Clarke said the team was currently examining proposals from interested parties in Brazil, India and Canada. "We are sifting those through to see which one or ones can be accommodated (and which are) consistent with the parameters set by the Prime Minister," the Agriculture Minister said at a luncheon held at the Courtleigh Hotel yesterday to review the performance of the agricultural sector.
CANE FARMERS CONSIDERED
He said the government was also willing to examine a proposal from cane farmers who have requested that the operations of the sugar factories be turned over to them. The minister pointed out that the government was not opposed to participation from any group.
Prime Minister P.J. Patterson had announced the closure of the Bernard Lodge sugar factory in St. Catherine and the Long Pond sugar factory in Trelawny as part of restructuring the ailing sugar industry.
In the meantime, Mr. Clarke announced a $200 million package for the development of the agricultural sector which suffered significantly from the effects of several hurricanes, floods and drought in the past year. The Minister said the money would be spent to enhance the country's food security by expanding agricultural production, create employment opportunities and increase export earnings.
He said the ministry has identified eight priority areas to achieve its objective. These areas include apiculture, sheep and goat rearing, ornamental fish and pimento production, irrigation, hydroponics and greenhouse production and a computerised farmers' registration system (ABIS).
MARKETING ARRANGEMENT
The Agriculture Minister said a serious effort would be made to strengthen the ministry's marketing and export departments to improve the marketing of agricultural produce. "We want to see how we can dovetail those agencies into what the JAS (Jamaica Agricultural Society) is doing and let us see how we can consolidate it around putting together a comprehensive marketing arrangement arm for agriculture in the coming year," Mr. Clarke said.
In the meantime, he said the registration of farmers was proving to be a challenge in terms of verifying farmers in the process.
