Minister Tufton for Agriculture Investment Seminar in New York

Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries Hon. Dr. Christopher Tufton, will highlight opportunities for investment in Jamaica’s agricultural sector at a seminar slated for May 12 in New York City USA.
Themed, ‘Farming is Back’, the session, which is being organised and hosted by the Jamaican Consulate in New York, will focus on production, post harvest processing, greenhouse technology, among other areas. There will also be an interactive segment with questions and answers.
The seminar is part of the Government’s aim to engage the Diaspora in investment opportunities as part of efforts to boost agricultural production and improve food security.
“Members of the Diaspora are being invited to participate and take advantage of a golden opportunity to invest in Jamaica, as working together in developing viable and exciting projects in agriculture will redound to our mutual benefit,” said Consul-General to New York, Geneive Brown Metzger.
She noted that Jamaica’s total agricultural export is less than US$200 million, indicating there is an urgent need for the country to take advantage of the extended American ethnic market, estimated to be worth $142 billion.
The Jamaican Government is promoting investment in greenhouse technology to boost agricultural production and is training young farmers in greenhouse skills, under a Modified Environment Agriculture certification programme, which is being supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
In his show of support for the programme, Dr. Tufton said that he is confident that as long as the available technology is properly utilised, the country could see significant increases in domestic food crops within the next few years.
The seminar is expected to get underway at 7:00 p.m. and due to space constraints, interested persons are being urged to call the Consulate General at 212-935-9000, extension 20 or 21, on or before Monday, May 11.