Gov’t Committed to Clearing Obstacles to Agricultural Production – PM

Prime Minister, the Hon. Bruce Golding, has said that the Government is committed to clearing all obstacles to boosting agricultural production and productivity, as the country charts its way out of the economic recession.
“Whatever it is that may have been holding us back, whether it is the bureaucracy. we have the capacity, we have the skill to drive agriculture,” the Prime Minister stated.
He was addressing the closing ceremony of the Denbigh Agri-Industrial Show in May Pen, Clarendon on August 2.
According to the Prime Minister, the farming sector “is a critical element in closing the development deficit and moving us forward” and must not be ignored.
“Let us never believe that we have the luxury of ignoring the sector because there are other glamorous sectors that can take us forward,” he stated.
He called for a “steadfast approach” from all the critical players in the industry as “we must not allow ourselves to get back into that mould, where we think that we can import all the food that we need.”
“We have to improve the marketing system for agricultural produce and ensure that we provide support for strengthening the supply chain, so that more of what is paid by the consumer can redound to the benefit of the farmer, and that the consumer pays less,” he added.
The annual Denbigh show, held from July 31 to August 2, was organised by the Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS).