Caribbean News
JAMAICA: Agricultural Scientists Encouraged to Build on Legacy of Dr. Lecky
#MontegoBay, May 2, 2023 – Agricultural Scientists are being urged to build on the legacy of renowned scientist, Dr. Thomas P. Lecky, as a strategy to further advance agriculture and strengthen the breeding population for cattle and ruminants in Jamaica.
Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon Pearnel Charles Jr., has said this will ultimately help to achieve food security and create a more resilient livestock sector.
“The distinguished work of Dr. Lecky puts Jamaica on the map in terms of just improving the genetics and… the breeding of our cattle… . It is important for us to recognise the need as we branch out into this innovative technology or continue it to build on the legacy of Dr. Lecky…” he said.
Mr. Charles Jr. was speaking at the Minard Artificial Insemination Demonstration and Calves and Sire parade, held at Minard Estate Farm in Brown’s Town, St. Ann, on Wednesday (April 26).
The event was hosted by the Agro-Investment Corporation in observance of Farmers Month.
Mr. Charles Jr, State Minister in the Ministry, Hon. Franklin Witter, and other officials witnessed the artificial insemination of a cow from the Jamaican Brahman breed at the livestock farm. The process was executed by a livestock support team from Nutramix.
Minister Charles Jr. described the artificial insemination programme at Minard Farm as “nothing short of phenomenal”.
He said the cattle-breeding technology boasts several advantages, including production of genetic diversity and a healthier and productive cattle stock.
“It (artificial insemination) will allow for us to eliminate the diseases that are attended from natural breeding, and it will allow for us to have more productivity. From one bull, you can have much more offspring and so the use of this innovative adaptable technology is something which we welcome in the sector,” Mr. Charles Jr. indicated.
For his part, Acting CEO of Agro-invest, Owen Scarlett, gave the assurance that the entity will continue to play a significant role in developing the agricultural sector by leveraging partnership to provide the local cattle industry with premium breeding stocks, to ensure that Jamaica is drastically able to reduce reliance on import.
The artificial insemination programme was reintroduced at Minard Estates in November 2021, following a partnership between Agro-Invest and the USAID Farmer-to-Farmer initiative, to provide capacity-building for the
team at the farm.
Scientist, Dr. Karl Wellington, through the Cattle Breeders Society of Jamaica, donated Jamaica Red Poll semen for the initiative.
Since 2022, the Jamaica Dairy Development Board, through the National Livestock Genetic Improvement and Breeding Technology Programme, has been facilitating the insemination of three cattle breeds on the property – the Jamaican Red Poll, Jamaica Black and the Jamaica Brahman.
This is being done to introduce the new sire lines for the cattle breeds. Four new Jamaica Black sire lines, namely Elation, Cruise, Blueprint, and Citation, have been introduced under the programme.
As of March 31, 2023, Minard Farm had a herd count of 100 Jamaica Red Poll, 136 Jamaica Black and 130 Jamaica Brahman.
Contact: Nickieta Sterling
Release: JIS
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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