Caribbean News
Agriculture Ministry Working to Facilitate International Trade
#Montego Bay, April 1, 2024 – The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining is reaffirming its commitment to Jamaica becoming a major export hub for agricultural produce and enhancing the country’s competitiveness on the global market.
Chief Technical Director in the Ministry, Orville Palmer said this, however, will require a further strengthening of relationships among local exporters.
“The world today is more competitive than it has ever been. Food security is more important than it has ever been. So, if we do not take being internationally competitive seriously, we will not have an industry to pass on to the next generation. Therefore, every activity that we do in Jamaica, especially when we are geared towards export markets, has to be internationally competitive,” Mr. Palmer stated.
He was speaking at the second New Face of Food Fresh Produce Exporters’ Forum held at the MEET Conference and Events Centre on Jimmy Cliff Boulevard in Montego Bay, St. James, on Thursday (March 28).
Mr. Palmer also expressed confidence in Jamaica’s resilience and credited the country’s current crop of exporters for continuing to seek out new information, as well as innovative ways to spur the export market.
He also acknowledged Portfolio Minister, Hon. Floyd Green, and other technocrats in the Ministry, for providing the necessary support both in the field and administratively, to maintain local agricultural growth by increasing domestic crop production, particularly yams, sweet potato and hot peppers.
“It is also important for the Ministry to continue to meet with you, our valid exporters, and other stakeholders who play an important part in moving our domestic crops into regional and international markets,” Mr. Palmer said.
“The Ministry will not overlook the critical role that our export stakeholders play on a daily basis in moving agricultural produce around the world. We are also aware of the challenges that exporters are facing and the Ministry is committed to solving these problems,” he added.
He also stated the need for continued investments and partnerships to further boost the agricultural sector.
The forum served as a platform for the Ministry to engage with exporters and stakeholders, demonstrating its dedication to supporting and promoting Jamaica’s agricultural growth in the international marketplace.
Contact: Okoye Henry
Release: JIS Regional Office
Photo Captions:
Header: Chief Technical Director in the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, Orville Palmer, speaking at the New Face of Food Fresh Produce Exporters’ Forum, held at the MEET Conference and Events Centre on Jimmy Cliff Boulevard in Montego Bay, St. James, on Thursday (March 28).
Insert: Local export stakeholders participate in the New Face of Food Fresh Produce Exporters’ Forum held at the MEET Conference and Events Centre on Jimmy Cliff Boulevard in Montego Bay, St. James, on Thursday (March 28).
Okoye Henry Photos
KINGSTON, April 29 (JIS):
Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Senator the Hon. Matthew Samuda, says the outcome of discussions arising from the Jamaica National Stakeholder Consultation on Climate Services and the 1st National Climate Forum (NCF-1) will assist in guiding the Government’s planning for climate change.
This, he points out, is important for climate mitigation as well as building Jamaica’s resilience.
“We look forward to the discussions that will, no doubt, take place. We look forward to the basis of planning for the Government to streamline its investments to ensure you have the tools that you need to better advise us, that the WRA (Water Resources Authority) has the tools to digitise its monitoring network, and that all of the agencies that touch our planning mechanisms have the tools. But we need to know what we are facing, and we’re guided by your expertise,” Minister Samuda said.
He was addressing the opening ceremony for the Jamaica National Stakeholder Consultation on Climate Services and the 1st National Climate Forum (NCF-1) at the Courtyard by Marriott Hotel in New Kingston on Monday (April 29).
Senator Samuda said given the fact that the climate has changed and continues to do so, investments in and collaborations on building Jamaica’s predictive and scientific capacity must be prioritised.
“Ultimately, we need to be able to assess our current climatic realities if we are to better plan, if we’re to insist and ensure that our infrastructure meets the needs that we need it to. I’m very happy that this event is happening… because this is a critical issue.
“Jamaica, last year, faced its worst and most severe drought… and this year, we’re already seeing the impacts of not quite as severe a drought but, certainly, a drought with severe impacts, especially in the western part of the country,” he said.
Principal Director, Meteorological Service of Jamaica, Evan Thompson, explained that the forum aims to, among other things, establish a collaboration platform for climate services providers and users to understand risks and opportunities of past, present and future climate developments, as well as improve inter-agency coordination of policies, plans and programmes.
Among the other presenters were Ambassador, European Union to Jamaica, Her Excellency Marianne Van Steen; Chief Scientist/Climatologist, Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology, Adrian Trotman; and Head, Regional Climate Prediction Services, World Meteorological Organization, Wilfran Moufouma-Okia.
The Meteorological Service of Jamaica hosted the Jamaica National Stakeholder Consultation on Climate Services and the 1st National Climate Forum (NCF-1) in partnership with the Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology and the World Meteorological Organization.
The National Stakeholder Consultation is a governance mechanism that guides how different sectors or actors work together to create products that contribute to adaptation and resilience-building. It seeks to create a road map for the development and implementation of climate services to inform decision-making.
NCF-1 aims to bridge the gap between climate providers and users. It increases the use of science-based information in decision-making and operations with the aim of generating and delivering co-produced and co-designed products and services.
CONTACT: CHRIS PATTERSON
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