Governor-General Lauds Jamaica’s Farmers

Governor-General, His Excellency, the Most Hon. Sir Patrick Allen, has praised Jamaica’s farmers on their resilience and efforts, in contending with the prevailing drought and other challenges impacting the agricultural sector.

The Governor-General said the farmers must be lauded for persevering despite the varying obstacles that could deter them from contributing to the country’s food security.

“I am heartened by the tenacity of the over 228,000 farmers across the length and breadth of this island. The parching drought, the scourge of praedial larceny, and rising costs of agricultural inputs could easily be deterrents to farming,” he said in a speech read by Deputy Governor-General, Hon. Steadman Fuller, at the opening of the 63^rd staging of the Denbigh Agricultural and Industrial Food Show in May Pen, Clarendon, on Friday, July 31.

The Governor-General noted that Jamaica’s farmers and stakeholders involved in agro-business “continue to be an essential pillar of our national thrust for rural development, food security, and economic growth.”

He also hailed the Denbigh Agricultural Show as being seminal in sustaining Jamaica’s agriculture, by providing a rich melting pot for farmers to share ideas on best practices, with a view to boosting food production and reducing imports.

The Governor-General noted that the show provides the ultimate local platform for agricultural and industrial stakeholders to display the best of their produce, current innovations, technology, and ideas for the future.

“The event is ideal for showcasing achievements and opportunities in the agricultural sector. We see that demonstrated in the fervour with which (it) is staged and greeted each year,” the Governor-General said.

He added that he was particularly pleased with the accomplishment of the Youth in Agriculture segment, which features outstanding examples of young people who are setting high standards in agriculture and agro business, while serving as good motivators for their peers to get involved in the sector.

For his part, Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS) President, and Denbigh Show Committee Chairman, Senator Norman Grant, noted that the high quality of produce displayed by the farmers this year, despite the drought, results from several interventions, including greenhouse agriculture, distribution of tanks and water to farmers, and training in climate-smart agriculture.

The annual three-day event, organised by the JAS, is being held from July 31 to August 2, under the theme: ‘Grow what you eat…Eat what you grow – Making Agriculture Sustainable’.