Agro Parks Yield Over 3.5 Million Kilograms of Produce

Over 3.5 million kilograms of produce have been harvested to date from the nine agro parks currently being operated across the country.

This was disclosed by Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Derrick Kellier, while addressing the launch of Ag Chem Plant Limited (ACP) at the Terra Nova All-Suite hotel in St. Andrew on Tuesday (Jan. 26).

He said there are plans to establish another nine parks. “As we go forward we have identified several other areas for the establishment of another nine parks over the next three years, because we have sequestered some 20,000 hectares of land for development of our agro parks,” he informed.

He noted that these additional parks are among areas “that are at different levels of scoping for development in the medium to long-term”.

Minister Kellier said the agro park model of agricultural production “is here to stay because it has proven to be among the best practices.”

Crops produced at the parks include onions, peppers, vegetables, potatoes, yams melons and pineapples.

The primary objective of the agro parks initiative is to bring under-utilised rural land and labour into a more efficient agricultural production system. As a result, crops are being produced at competitive prices to facilitate import substitution, enhance the agricultural supply chain, deepen industrial linkages and increase food security.

In the meantime, the Minister welcomed the launch of ACP, which he described as a public commitment to supporting not just the agricultural sector, but the economy of Jamaica.

“On behalf of the Government, I welcome this investment as a vote of confidence in our sector and offer heartiest congratulations as you boldly move ahead with your plans for expansion to serve both the domestic and export markets. This demonstrates your commitment to grow your own business and so assist us to grow the agricultural sector and grow the Jamaican economy,” he said.

ACP manufactures, formulates and distributes a wide range of products for the agri-industry.

The company was incorporated in September 2014 to take over the operations of J Wray and Nephew’s agricultural chemicals division.

The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Caribbean Chemicals and Agencies Limited (CCAL), incorporated in Trinidad and Tobago.  CCAL has been a pioneer in the agricultural business in the Caribbean for over 47 years, exporting a wide range of agricultural inputs to the Eastern Caribbean, Guyana, Suriname and Jamaica.