#Kingston, August 8, 2019 – Jamaica – Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, is imploring the nation’s farmers to incorporate science and technology into their farming practices, in order to continue to increase the country’s agricultural output. He suggests that the Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS) could use its influence with farmers to ensure the adoption of more innovative methods of farming.
The
Prime Minister was speaking at the 67th staging of the Denbigh
Agricultural, Industrial and Food Show at the Denbigh Showground, in May Pen,
Clarendon, on Tuesday (August 5).
“It is
important that the JAS becomes an advocate for the use of drip irrigation
technology, for the use of mulching, to develop more creative ways of storing
and capturing rain water, and for the preservation of our environment,” he
said.
Further
emphasising the importance of protecting the environment, Mr. Holness called on
farmers to desist from using “longstanding agricultural practices,” such as the
slash and burn technique, particularly in watershed areas. This practice, he
said, has resulted in these areas being denuded, due to persons cutting down (and
burning) trees for coal.
“I am
the last man to ‘fight against’ any man who is seeking to earn a (living)…but it
can’t be that if we are going to do some agriculture, we have to burn down
everything,” he said.
In the
meantime, Mr. Holness praised the organisers and show participants, noting that
the stalls he saw during his tour of the grounds were “beautiful (and) the
livestock was impressive,” adding that “agriculture is strong and robust in Jamaica.
We see great opportunities, and great possibilities”.
The
Prime Minister had toured the grounds with President of the Republic of Kenya,
His Excellency Uhuru Kenyatta and his delegation, who are in the island for a
three-day State visit. In his remarks,
President Kenyatta, who is also a dairy farmer, said he was pleased to have
participated in a “premiere agricultural show, not only in Jamaica, but also in
the Caribbean”.
“The
quality of agricultural produce and livestock that we have seen is quite
outstanding,” he said.
Commending
the Government and the people of Jamaica for the progress made in agriculture,
President Kenyatta noted that one of the things that interested him most “is
your journey of innovation that has resulted in developing a livestock breed
that is adaptive to the climate and to the pasture conditions of Jamaica,” and
suggested partnership in this area.
“We
would be more than keen to partner to see how we can take some of your breeds
and probably how you can look at some of our breeds in order to develop
livestock that is properly attuned to our respective climates,” he said.
The
President added that more needs to be done to increase exchanges between Kenyan
farmers and Jamaican farmers, “so that we can learn best practices from each
other”. He and his wife, Mrs. Margaret
Kenyatta will also attend the Independence Grand Gala at the National Stadium
later this evening.
The
President and his wife are special guests for the celebration of the 57th
anniversary of Jamaica’s Independence. They will depart the island on Wednesday
(August 7).
Contact: Alecia Smith
Release: JIS
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