Strengthening Tourism And Agriculture Links In St. Ann
By: , February 28, 2022
Photo: Serena Grant
St. Ann 4H Club Assistant Secretary Sonia Tucker (right) and Japan International Corporation Agency (JICA) volunteer Natsumi Nagarmura (second from right), gives Secretary at the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) St. Ann branch, Marie Richards and her daughter Julisan Richards, an over view of products at their booth. Occasion was the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries’ St. Ann Agri-Tourism Business Symposium which was held at the Seville Heritage Park in the parish on Friday (February 25).
Photo: Serena Grant
Minister of State in the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries Hon. Franklyn Witter, addresses the Ministry’s St. Ann Agri-Tourism Business Symposium which was held at the Seville Heritage Park in the parish on Friday (February 25).The Full Story
The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries’ St. Ann Agri-Tourism Business Symposium was held at the Seville Heritage Park in the parish on (Friday) February 25.
The event was spearheaded by the Ministry through the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) in collaboration with the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF).
The primary focus of the symposium was to bring together emerging businesses, product developers and financial institutions aimed at guiding, promoting and marketing products or services. The objective was to facilitate networking and alignment with partners in the agricultural value chain, in addition to providing critical product development information and guidance for new and existing businesses.
Minister of State in the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Franklyn Witter, in his address noted: “There are over 25,000 registered famers in St. Ann contributing to over 1,500 hectares of domestic food crops and 45 acres of protected agricultural greenhouse. We have witnessed where farmers are encouraged to increase production based on the implementation of various projects and programmes initiated through the Ministry.”
He highlighted that one of the main programmes benefiting farmers in the parish is the Ministry’s Production Incentive Programme, which is aimed at “driving sustainable expansion of selective crops to facilitate the recovery of the agricultural sector as we strive to overcome the negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic”.
The Minister said that as of February 25, some $7.9 million has been allocated to the parish for sweet and yellow yam, dasheen and hot pepper production.
“Other components include the procurement of vegetable seeds, onion, Irish potatoes, pineapple suckers, greenhouse renovations and drought mitigation assistance through water tank and drip irrigation,” Mr. Witter said.
He added that the RADA St. Ann extension team continues to provide group training, virtual linkages and technological transfers to the farmers in the parish. Some 544 training programmes for 2,794 farmers were held in the last financial year, Mr. Witter revealed.
He commended the HEART/NSTA Trust, the Social Development Commission [SDC], financial and educational institutions for their support.
The St. Ann Agri-Tourism Business Symposium was held under the theme ‘Exploring the entrepreneurial opportunities in the tourism and agricultural sectors”.