JAS launches Farmers’ Newspaper

‘The Farmer’, a newspaper geared towards providing valuable agricultural information to the farming community, was launched on Aug 5 at the opening of the Denbigh Agricultural and Industrial Show in May Pen, Clarendon.
A publication of the Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS), the first copy of which was issued on Friday (Aug 4), ‘The Farmer’ features stories surrounding the 2006 Denbigh Agricultural Show including security measures for Denbigh, the kiddies village and the agriculture and livestock competitions.
Agriculture and Lands Minister, Roger Clarke, in commending the JAS’ effort, noted that, “our farmers need to communicate in terms of information and therefore it is appropriate that a paper like this be produced by the Jamaica Agricultural Society”.
“I expect that in no time, it will be in a position to enable our farmers to look through and sometimes identify markets. Information about pest control, weed control and other technical aspects of agriculture will also be available. If the farmers of Jamaica are going to be committed to this paper, then it will succeed and I therefore want to commend you,” he said.
Other features in the first issue are: parish briefs; the National Farm Queen Competition; funding by the Food and Agriculture Organization for the construction of a slaughtering facility; the Agricultural Business Information System (ABIS); the availability of agricultural receipt books; coffee farmers insurance claims; the construction of an ethanol plant by Jamaica Broilers Group; and the return of Senator Norman Grant as President of the JAS.
The newspaper will be produced every three months.