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Coffee and Cocoa Growers’ Cooperatives Merge

March 5, 2004

The Key Point:

The Jamaica Agricultural Society's Coffee Growers Cooperative Federation and the Cocoa Growers Cooperative Federation have merged as they strive to become more viable entities.

The Facts

  • The merger took place on Thursday (March 4) at a joint annual general meeting of the organizations.Speaking with JIS News, Chairman of the Coffee Growers Cooperative, Jonathon Newton explained that the merger had been agreed for several reasons.
  • These, he said, included declining overall production of cocoa and coffee, which had affected the income or cess required to effectively manage the Federations.In addition, he said both agencies had a difficulty identifying an adequate number of persons to carry out voluntary management service. With the merger, this problem would be alleviated, as a combined administration would require fewer persons.

The Full Story

The Jamaica Agricultural Society’s Coffee Growers Cooperative Federation and the Cocoa Growers Cooperative Federation have merged as they strive to become more viable entities.

The merger took place on Thursday (March 4) at a joint annual general meeting of the organizations.Speaking with JIS News, Chairman of the Coffee Growers Cooperative, Jonathon Newton explained that the merger had been agreed for several reasons.

These, he said, included declining overall production of cocoa and coffee, which had affected the income or cess required to effectively manage the Federations.In addition, he said both agencies had a difficulty identifying an adequate number of persons to carry out voluntary management service. With the merger, this problem would be alleviated, as a combined administration would require fewer persons.

“A consultation has been done with all the stakeholders for the merger of the JAS Coffee Growers Federation and the Cocoa Growers Cooperative as a strategic plan to strengthen and harness the human and financial resources of all member cooperatives for greater benefits to shareholders,” he said.

A nine member Management Committee was selected at the meeting, which, according to Mr. Newton was expected to meet in seven days to assess the Cooperatives’ representation to the Coffee and Cocoa Industry Boards, as well as to evaluate administrative issues.
In his remarks, Minister of State in the Ministry of Agriculture, Errol Ennis congratulated the Cooperatives for their decision to merge.

“What I think you ought to say to yourselves .is that let this be the end of one process and the beginning of a new process in which we are dedicating ourselves to ensure that our business is run in a business-like fashion,” he said.

Last Updated: June 18, 2019

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