Government to Ramp Up Research and Development Activities in Agriculture
By: February 4, 2025 ,The Full Story
The Government will be ramping up research and development activities in agriculture to strengthen food security and value-added industries in the sector.
Addressing the handover ceremony for seven irrigation travellers to the Bodles Agricultural Research Centre in St. Catherine on January 29, Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining Minister, Hon.
Floyd Green, said the Government has been consistent in its resolve to achieve that mandate.
“The Government decided that we are going to put strong emphasis on research through our Research and Development Division under the Rehabilitation of Research Centres Project (RRCP), phase one,” he said.
This phase focused on advancement in the application of science and technology in agricultural research and education, driving technological innovation, and to generate and transfer knowledge in line with the needs of the country.
Activities under the RRCP, phase one, also included the rehabilitation of the island’s agricultural research centres.
In phase one, investments of approximately $1 billion centred on the Old Harbour St. Catherine-based Bodles Agricultural Research Centre.
The Government is investing $6.3 billion on the rehabilitation of agricultural research facilities over the next six years.
Phase two of this project, the Rehabilitation of Research Centres, commenced in April 2024.
It focuses on six major functional areas: administration; research station infrastructure; operations/inventory management; research, technology transfer and training outreach programmes; plant and genetic resource management, and sales and marketing.
A significant element achieved under phase one was the upgrade of the irrigation systems at research centres, at a cost of $81.2 million. The upgrades included the laying down of additional pipes; installation of additional pumps; and procurement of five irrigation travellers.
Notably, the Ministry recently procured an additional seven irrigation travellers at a cost of $35.37 million under phase two of the project.
Meanwhile, Minister Green said more than 150 acres of pastures at Bodles have already been resuscitated, with the intention to re-establish more pastures at the research centre to improve feed quality and ensure consistent supply for small ruminants.
Underscoring the importance of research in driving agriculture, the Minister said investments in research will strengthen the sector.
“We have been focused on ensuring that we build back Bodles, not only to its former glory but that it leapfrogs where it used to be and takes its rightful place as the leader of tropical agricultural research in this region. The Government has decided that we are going to put strong emphasis on research,” he said.