Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, the Hon. J.C. Hutchinson (3rd left) speaking at the handover by the Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI) of equipment and material to boost the Ministry’s seed production capacity. Along with the Minister, at the January 11, 2017 event held at the Ministry’s Hope Gardens offices, are (l-r) Donovan Stanberry, permanent secretary; Barton Clarke, executive director CARDI and Stefano Cilli, agricultural attaché, Delegation of the European Union in Jamaica, who financed the project.
The seed production capacity of the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries (MICAF), which is operated at its facility at the Bodles Research Station in Old Harbour, was today (Wednesday, January 11) given a boost with the provision of equipment and materials valued at some $2.5 million.
The equipment and material were presented to the Ministry by the Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI) as part of the Agricultural Policy Programme (APP) funded by the European Union (EU) and aimed at enhancing the national capacity to develop, multiply and manage breeder, foundation and commercial seeds.
The seed facility at the Bodles Research Station currently produces seeds for hot pepper, pumpkin and sorrel for sale to farmers.
At the handover, which took place at the MICAF Hope Gardens offices, Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry, the Hon. J.C. Hutchinson, who received the equipment and materials on behalf of the Ministry, described the initiative as one of critical importance to the agriculture ministry’s commitment to secure increased production and productivity in order to contribute to the national growth agenda.
Stressing the importance and role of research and development in the agricultural sector, Minister Hutchinson welcomed the collaboration with CARDI and other stakeholders and partners such as the EU, the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) and the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations.
“Even as we work together to increase agricultural productivity and production, we are also guided by research and development as we seek to address issues of food safety and food security as well as import substitution,” Minister Hutchinson said.
He added that good seeds and planting material were critical to high crop yields and cited the Clean Seed Programme being implemented by the Research and Development Division of the Ministry, which provides locally produced seeds that are clean and viable at low cost, thus reducing the dependence on imported seeds.
The Clean Seed Programme, Minister Hutchinson said, had contributed positively to the expansion of the Irish potato and Beauregard sweet potato production.
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Contact:
Director, Communication & Public Relations
Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries
Hope Gardens, Kingston 6
T – 618-7128; E: pr2@micaf.gov.jm; daoconnor@micaf.gov.jm
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