The island's largest exporter of agricultural produce is urging the Government to take advantage of the opportunities that will become available from the new round of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) negotiations.

According to Novell Quest, the CEO of Agriventures Jamaica, while the WTO rulings have presented challenges for the export of traditional produce such as sugar and bananas, the new round of negotiations present opportunities for the Government and the private sector to pursue a number of measures that will lead to a vibrant local agro-processing sector.

Mr. Quest said Jamaica should place emphasis on agro-processing to meet demands locally and globally, as well as, in CARICOM. Also, he said more effort should be placed on 'sourcing new and more competitive agricultural inputs from the global marketplace and expand our agro-processing capacity.'

In a presentation entitled 'Advantages of agro-processing and opportunities available in agro-processing', at an education forum held recently at the Denbigh Agricultural and Industrial Show, Mr. Quest pointed out that exports of non-traditional food products were growing rapidly and were now worth an estimated US$30 billion annually. He said half of these exports came from developing countries, based on the Food and Agriculture Organisation's (FAO) figures.

"Simple processing such as drying, washing and packaging for retail can produce an enormous amount of value added. Dressed or marinated meat fetches far more than the raw product. Graded, washed and trimmed vegetables command a premium price," he pointed out.

Mr. Quest said opportunities presented by the new round of negotiations could also result in the reduction of rural unemployment and poverty and increase the income levels of farmers, agricultural and agro-industrial workers.

He also encouraged the private sector to play their part in the development of the industry.