Noel Thompson, Freelance Writer

WESTERN BUREAU:

This year's 17th staging of the Montpelier Agricultural, Livestock and Industrial Show, slated for April 9 in St. James, is projected to gross $4.7 million.

Glendon Harris, president of the St. James Association of Branch Societies of the Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS), says the evidence is sufficient to assert that the 2007 show will surpass all previous events.

This expectation, according to him, is based on the level of enthusiasm being expressed by farmers, participants and potential patrons.

"We are confident that, as time goes by, we will raise some money, mainly from our sponsors," he stated at a press conference at the Rural Agricultural Development Agency in Catherine Hall, Montego Bay, St. James yesterday.

If the projected $4.7 million is raised from the show, this will be the first time that kind of revenue would be achieved in its history, Mr. Harris added.

He explained that $2.2 million is being budgeted to offset the cost but, so far, only a tenth of that amount had been realised. An additional 10 per cent is to be raised from the sale of advertisements.

The theme for this year's show is 'Growing Our Fortune Through Agriculture, Eat Jamaican' and is expected to see about 12,000 people attending.

Booths

With 68 booths up for rental, these will cost $4,000 to $15,000. The proceeds from previous events have been spent on developing the showgrounds to make it more attractive and, in the long term, to become a significant revenue earner.

"We have been constantly investing on the showground over the past six years. This has increased its value and has made it much easier for us to put on a show. Valuation can show that more than $8 million have been spent to improve the grounds," he noted.

Mr. Harris also disclosed that plans are in progress to book some of the participants from last year's Digicel Rising Stars competition, as main acts for the show.