PM Emphasises Importance of Technology to Agriculture

The importance of technology in the sustenance and advancement of the local agricultural sector to world class standards has been underscored by Prime Minister Bruce Golding.
Responding to a question raised by a caller on his first one-hour radio call-in programme, which was broadcast on Wednesday (January 30) from Jamaica House, Mr. Golding said that, “if farming is going to be around in 10 years’ time, (then) we are going to have to improve the technology.”
“We will be introducing some new technologies. It is what is called protected agricultural technology, which refers to things like greenhouses, hydroponics, and so on,” the Prime Minister said.
He added that a new approach to farming was being introduced which would be targeting younger farmers, because they are deemed to be more embracing of the proposed technologies.
“We have to get cracking on farming. We can’t expect to compete with the rest of the world if we are going (to the) bush with the same hoe and cutlass, and riding the same donkey that our grandfathers used to ride, and with the same hamper across the donkey; that is not going to cut it. I want to see farmers doing the kind of farming where they are not riding donkeys anymore. they must have a key in their pockets to a pick-up to carry their goods. That’s the kind of thing we are talking about (and) we have to get serious (about it),” Mr. Golding stressed.
‘Jamaica House Live’ with Prime Minister Bruce Golding, will be aired on the last Wednesday of each month, and will be carried live between 8:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. on RJR 94 FM, Nationwide Radio Digital AM; Love 101 FM; Hot 102; KLAS FM, and Roots FM.