Montague says processed food answer to Gluts
July 8, 2011The Full Story
KINGSTON — Newly appointed Minister of Agriculture, Hon Robert Montague, says that a focus of the Caribbean 4-H Food Festival, scheduled for Kingston in late July, will be the generation of value added products from excess agricultural production.
“We need to move from primary production to secondary production. We need to move to processing, so that the farmers’ income and the farm family’s income can be increased,” he stated.
Mr. Montague was speaking at the launch of the third staging of the Caribbean 4-H Food Festival, at 4-H headquarters, Kingston on Thursday July 7, 2011.
“I am convinced that the solution to our agricultural problems lie with us as Jamaicans. We know the problem…what we need to do is to move from documenting the problem, to implementing the solution,” he said.
The food festival will be held July 25 to 30, at the Rose Hall 4-H Training and Production Centre, St. Catherine, and the Denbigh Agricultural Showground, Clarendon. It is a 7-day experience of displays, entertainment, exploration, relaxation, information and investment activities, designed to draw international attention to the Caribbean 4-H movement.
By CHRIS PATTERSON, JIS Reporter