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First Agro Economic Zone to Be Established in Clarendon

By: , May 11, 2016

The Key Point:

The Government is to establish its first Agro Economic Zone in Spring Plain, Clarendon, through a public/private partnership, to process and market produce.
First Agro Economic Zone to Be Established in Clarendon
Photo: Dave Reid
Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. J.C. Hutchinson (3rd left), in discussion with Ministry officials at a warehouse in Spring Plain, Clarendon, on May 10. The building will be renovated and converted as part of the first Agro Economic Zone to be established by the Government. Others (from left) are: Senior Director with the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA), Percival Shaw; Director with the Agro-Investment Corporation (AIC), Charles Reid, and Principal Director for Technical Services at RADA, Peter Thompson.

The Facts

  • Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. J.C. Hutchinson, says the property, which has a large warehouse, has been leased by an investor, and when it is fully operational, farmers will have a market for their crops.
  • The Minister pointed out that the investor will also be manufacturing potato chips, and farmers should get into production by September, so that by next year, they can sell their produce to the factory.

The Full Story

The Government is to establish its first Agro Economic Zone in Spring Plain, Clarendon, through a public/private partnership, to process and market produce.

            Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. J.C. Hutchinson, says the property, which has a large warehouse, has been leased by an investor, and when it is fully operational, farmers will have a market for their crops.

            “We are going to have grading, packaging and processing of all crops,” the Minister said, at the end of a tour of the Ebony Park and Spring Plan Agro Parks, on May 10.

            He noted that the complex will have a drying facility and an abattoir, adding that fruits and vegetables which usually rot in the fields will be taken to the Zone and made into puree and then marketed.

            The Minister pointed out that the investor will also be manufacturing potato chips, and farmers should get into production by September, so that by next year, they can sell their produce to the factory.

            Meanwhile, Mr. Hutchinson said that each agro park will be assigned an Extension Officer, so that farmers will get technical information to boost production. There are nine agro parks across the island

While on the tour, the Minister met with farmers and addressed matters such as praedial larceny, marketing and irrigation.

He said the National Irrigation Commission (NIC) has wells in the area that can supply all the water the farmers need at the two agro parks.

Last Updated: May 11, 2016

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