EU project to boost farmers in Jamaica

Posted by fdixon on August 4, 2010

Farmers in Jamaica are to receive more financial assistance from the European Union (EU) Project CARE and the Cocoa sector Revitalisation project, in order to boost the agricultural industry. Jamaica is among 15 countries set to benefit from this new project funded by the EU.

The announcement was made by Helen Jenkinson, charge` d’ffaires of the EU. She urged the St Mary farmers to organise themselves to benefit.

The agricultural sector, mainly banana and cocoa has been adversely affected due to natural disasters, and changes in international trading policies, particularly in the European Union. This ended a decades-long preferential pricing arrangement with African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries, and significantly cut the price it paid for sugar and banana from these countries. This situation has now caused an impending threat to the survival of sugar and banana.

Jenkinson urged the government to take action to revitalise the industry now if it is to keep abreast of the global development.

The EU is assisting Jamaica’s banana sector but is the government doing enough to boost the economy with agriculture?

Is the government promoting agriculture enough as a viable opportunity for our young people?

Will this waiver on greenhouse products helps the ailing agriculture sector?

Posted by fdixon on July 27, 2010

Finance minister Audley Shaw recently announced the government’s willingness to grant waiver to persons wanting to set up greenhouses. What will this waiver do for agriculture in Jamaica?

According to The Sunday Gleaner, “All the green house material that’s wanted in Jamiaca, I’ll sign waivers for it,” said Audley Shaw. 

Certainly, some good news for farmers who want to set up greenhouses to grow plants, but many farmers probably don’t know about it. 

Jamaica Greenhouse Growers Association (JGGA), Technical team leader, Burrell Scarlett said the entire greenhouse industry and the agriculture fraternity welcomes the decision to reopen  the waiver system that will allow for duty-free importation of construction material for greenhouses.

However, he said JGGA has not been affected by the suspension since it had no waivers pending, but the issue had been a matter of concern.

Recently, the government has made a decision to suspend the number of waiver it grants, pending a review of the system. This comes in light of a fraud uncovered in the finance ministry relating to the issuance of waivers.

Do you agree with the decision to reopen waivers? How do you think  this will impact the greenhouse industry?