Farming Only on Arable Agricultural Lands at Innswood

The Government has reiterated its full commitment in ensuring that arable agricultural lands in Innswood, St. Catherine, are utilised solely for farming and production.

Speaking at a post Cabinet press briefing on Wednesday (September 21), Minister without Portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister with Responsibility for Information, Hon. Robert Morgan, said the Administration had taken a policy decision regarding the property, in support of the ‘Mother Farm’ concept of agriculture.

“That policy decision that was made in 2018/19 has never changed… it has never shifted. There has been no discussion in the Cabinet about changing Innswood, that 3,000-acre property, from agriculture,” he told journalists.

The Minister, again, outlined that the lease agreement for the lands, which are owned by the Government, contains this exclusive agricultural policy.

“The Government, which granted the lease and makes policy, says only farming, [and] the person who has possession of the lease or benefits from the lease says, ‘only farming’, and there has been no evidence… of a change in government policy,” he said.

The Mother Farm concept is a branch of agriculture that deals with farmers getting the assistance in sourcing ready markets to sell their produce. It also seeks to facilitate access to modern agriculture technology.

Through this concept, large companies can enter into partnerships with small and medium farmers, to provide them with an avenue to sell their crops.

These large companies are typically equipped with the technology, expertise, and investment capacity to provide extension services to work with small farmers in crop development.

This also supports the Government’s thrust in promoting agriculture, particularly large scale, technology-based production.