Farmers to Receive Organic Certification

A number of local farmers will receive training and certification in organic standards under a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS) and the Jamaica Diaspora Agriculture Task Force (JDAT).

JAS President, Norman Grant, made the disclosure to JIS News at a food security summit held on April 21 at the Jamaica Conference Centre, Downtown, Kingston.

Under the MoU, which was signed recently, the National Farm Queen will also participate in a two-week course at the University of Delaware Agricultural Institute in the United States (US).

In addition, the Diaspora task force will partner with the JAS in the staging of the first National Champion Organic Farmer competition at this year’s Denbigh agricultural show.

“They are going to be showing off organic agriculture and making presentations on climate smart agriculture,” Mr. Grant told JIS News.

He said the agreement will be of “tremendous value” to the farmers and help to advance agriculture in Jamaica.

“We will also collaborate on other initiatives. Most importantly, the MoU will give us a connection with the three million Jamaicans living overseas,” he pointed out.

Mr. Grant thanked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade for introducing the JAS to the Diaspora group and facilitating the MoU.

Member of the JDAT, Kimone Gooden, said the agreement with the JAS is in keeping with the entity’s commitment to supporting nation building in Jamaica.

“We are focused on food security, organic farming, and sustainable farming practices, so we are launching a series of projects this year in partnership with the JAS to push those areas forward,” she informed.

Meanwhile, National Farm Queen, Peter-Gay Stewart, said she is grateful for the opportunity to learn about agricultural best practices in the US.

“I have a passion for agriculture and it is important that young people like myself engage in agriculture so that we can contribute to the advancement of the sector,” she noted.

The JDAT is comprised of Jamaicans living overseas, who are passionate about agriculture.

The task force is committed to supporting the development of the Jamaican farmer through training targeted at local and export market readiness; bolstering food security by focusing on projects that will help to reduce the importation of produce; and promoting an organic option in Jamaica.