Hon J.C. Hutchinson ( 2nd left), Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, examines fertilizer being presented to him by Daniel McHugh, Managing Director of Sapphire Agriculture Jamaica Ltd, along with (from left) Olive Downer-Walsh, Deputy CEO of Hardware & Lumber and Lloyd Distant, CEO. The occasion was the Sapphire Fertilizer Product Launch in Kingston on September 13.

Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon J.C. Hutchinson, has welcomed the partnership between Sapphire Agriculture Jamaica Ltd and H&L Agro for the distribution of a new line of fertilizers even as he expressed dissatisfaction with the large quantities of food imported into Jamaica, some of which are grown locally.
Speaking at the Sapphire Product Launch in Kingston on September 13, Minister Hutchinson said it was critical to increase local food production in order to reduce Jamaica’s high food import bill, which now stands at over US$800m.
The focus of the Ministry, Minister Hutchinson said, has been to develop strategies to support increased production of some of the major food items that Jamaica currently imports in large quantities such as Irish potato and onion.
He noted that under the National Irish Potato Production Programme local production has increased from 39% in 2008 to over 90% in 2016 and this, he said, was attributable to the partnership model that has been developed with the input suppliers and stakeholders.
Noting that the agricultural sector plays an important role in the development of the country, Minister Hutchinson commended the companies for the partnership that has been forged. He observed, also, that the use of right quality inputs will promote long-term soil fertility and improved production.
“I see this partnership as a win-win situation for you as business partners, for our farmers who should realise increased profits on their crops, and for the Jamaican people who will be able to purchase more locally grown food leading to a reduction in our food imports,” Minister Hutchinson emphasised.
Sapphire Agriculture Jamaica Ltd has been in operation for a little over a year and is the supplier of NPK-blended fertilizers, which incorporates 100% certified organic matter as filler. Among the products to be distributed by H&L Agro islandwide is the FertiPlus line, which is said to be the only line with 100% certified soil, granular fertilizer and liquid concentrate fertilizer on the Jamaican market.

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Contact:

Communication & Public Relations
Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries
Hope Gardens, Kingston 6
T – 927-1731-50 / 618-7128; E: pr2@micaf.gov.jm; daoconnor@micaf.gov.jm
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