Farmers and Organisations Recognised for Contribution to Agriculture

Some 72 farmers and organizations have been recognized by the Clarendon Association of Branch Societies of the Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS), for their contribution to agriculture.
The awards ceremony was held at the Denbigh Agricultural Showground in May Pen on April 30, as part of Farmers’ Month celebrations under the theme: ‘Agricultural and Rural Development, Creating the Future by Investing in the Present/Eat Jamaican’.
The farmers were recognized for their participation in agricultural training seminars and for their general contribution to the sector. Some of them have been certified as soil composite collectors and pesticide control applicators.
Twenty-two farmers were given certificates for their participation in the soil analysis and composite collection workshop, put on by the Jamaica Agricultural Society and Antilles Chemical; 20 persons and organizations received certificates of appreciation and 30 persons received certificates for participation in the pesticide use training session.
Some of the farmers were: Charles Graham, Pearl McBean, Minta Pinnock, Myra Less, Byron Earle, Basil Waite, Cosmo Earle, Jeptha Campbell, Leondo Howe, Lasford Williams, Stephen Reid, Gloria Powell, Sylvester Brown, Reverend Wesley Rhoden, Kerrie Helligan and Veleta McLeod, while the organizations included Antilles Chemicals and the Pesticide Control Authority.
“In April every year, the Jamaica Agricultural Society celebrates Farmers’ Month, which is a time of thanksgiving to God and also a time to say thanks to farmers and to recognize their hard work, especially those who have given themselves to training. This is what we call, adding value to the life of the farmer, and so we conduct training throughout the year and usually at a service like this where Clarendon farmers come together, we give certificates of appreciation or certificates of participation,” Laurence Madden, Chief Executive Officer of the JAS told JIS News.
The farmers also participated in a Thanksgiving Service and a rally.
Pearl McBean, a 52 year-old chicken farmer from the Gravel Hill JAS group, who received three certificates of appreciation, was recognized for her outstanding work in farming, providing support for JAS meetings and training seminars, and influencing other farmers to benefit from the sessions.
“I’m proud to be a farmer, it’s the only way to go and I want to do some serious farming to make some money,” she told JIS News.
Mrs. McBean intends to expand her farming operations by putting in a one acre plot of sweet and hot pepper.