Budhan

in charge

VOL. 26 NO. 4 October 2016

FREE COPY

Donovan Stanberry on leave

BY KIMMY BLAIR
The Agriculturalist Reporter

etired public servant and former permanent secretary in

the then Ministry of Industry and Commerce, Reginald
Budhan has been appointed to act as permanent secretary in
the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture & Fisheries.
The Agriculturalist understands that Budhan is acting for
Donovan Stanberry, who has been on a three-month vacation
leave since Sept. 5, 2016.
Stanberrys departure from the ministry ended months of
speculation in the agricultural community that he is being transferred to another ministry in light of reports that he and other senior members of the ministry received loans from the European
Union-funded Cane Expansion Fund.
The Agriculturalist also understands that several farm stakeholders, Services Commission and the European Delegation in Jamaica, as well as leaders in both the Peoples National Party and
the Jamaica Labour Party, want the permanent secretary out of
agriculture.
There were several plans in place before the general elections of Feb. 25 to transfer Mr. Stanberry. Plus he wanted to use
the opportunity to complete his doctorial studies, which could be
the reason he opted to take vocation leave now, a reliable source
in the Agriculture Ministry told The Agriculturalist.
However, the announcement came as a surprise among ministry officials and agriculturalists that Stanberry was retained as
the permanent secretary in the new super Ministry of Industry,
Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries after the JLP took office.
The objections to Stanberry intensified in agricultural and political circles. Minister Karl Samuda reportedly has had no problem working with Stanberry, but several of Samudas colleagues
in the government were not comfortable with the permanent secretary who has been in the post since March 2006.
Up to press time, The Agriculturalist was unable to confirm
if Stanberry was asked to take leave or if he will return to his post
in December when his vacation ends.

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JAS
recorded
net loss of
$8.2 M
Frosty
Pod Rot
hits cocoa
crop
Page 7

----------------------------------

REGINALD BUDHAN

Acting permanent secretary

Ministry of Industry, Commerce,
Agriculture & Fisheries

Page 4

2 THE AGRICULTURALIST OCTOBER 2016

04/10/2016

10:25 AM

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EDITORIAL

We need more active farmers organizations

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amaican farmers were among the most organized set of primary producers in this region of the world with the establishment of
the Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS) in
1895.
The intent was to stimulate interest of
all categories of farmers on the island in agricultural pursuits, and to establish a forum
where all farmers could meet, discuss their
problems to initiate plans, elect officers and
to do all other things necessary for the welfare of the farming community.
Some 122 years later, the JAS is still in
operations with only 3,843 members recorded
in its annual reports, yet president Norman
Grant continues to claim a 200,000-membership strong society.
The JAS affiliated commodity associations, which were also started by our colonial
leaders, are best described as ineffective or
dead. The Jamaica Citrus Growers Association, the Pimento Growers Association, the
Cocoa Growers Federation, the All Island
Cane Farmers Association, the All Island Banana Growers Association, the Coffee Growers Federation and the Jamaica Livestock

Association, have been wrecked by a group

of self-centered leaders who were more focused on creating wealth for themselves.
We cannot overemphasize the importance of farmers organizations as essential institutions for the empowerment, poverty
alleviation and advancement of farmers and
the rural poor.
Farmers organizations strengthen the
political power of farmers by increasing the
likelihood that policy makers and the public
hear their needs and opinions.
Unfortunately, despite our farmers organizations having strong political links, especially with the Peoples National Party
(PNP), Jamaican farmers have long suffered
from government mis- and under-investment
in smallholder agriculture.
However, both the Jamaica Labour Party
(JLP) and PNP have been assisting their party
supporters/farmers when they are in control
of government resources.
In most developed countries where agriculture is successful, the government has always performed a major role in the
establishment and operation of farmers group
with no political or party affiliations.

patrick@theagriculturalist.com

OPINIONS

OCTOBER 2016 THE AGRICULTURALIST 3

As government continues to operate

under the so-called free-market economic
system, farmers organizations are more relevant as an economic tool in the efficient production of good and services. An aggressive
farmers lobby group that is always at war
with government and other institutions is no
longer the top priority.
However, farmers organizations are
necessary to help address the lack of access
to the islands limited resources, inappropriate
policies, thin and uncompetitive markets,
weak rural infrastructure as well as inadequate production and financial services.
Farmers all over the world have tried to address conditions of hunger and poverty by organizing themselves into farmers, producers
and various self-help groups and associations.
With the government already providing
up to 80 percent of its annual budget, the JAS
will have to lead the drive in getting the farmers back in active commodity organization.
The Ministry of Industry, Commerce,
Agriculture & Fisheries should assist in ensuring that the bigger farmers do not exploit
the small producers.

The opinions expressed in this newspaper, except for the above, do not necessarily reflect the views of The Agriculturalist and its publishers. Please send your comments or suggestions to editor@theagriculturalist.com. Responses should be no longer than 400 words. Not all articles will be published.

Climate is changing - Food and agriculture must too

ne of the biggest issues related to climate change is food security. The

worlds poorest - many of whom are farmers, fishers and pastoralists - are being hit
hardest by higher temperatures and an increasing frequency in weather-related disasters.
At the same time, the global population
is growing steadily and is expected to reach
9.6 billion by 2050. To meet such a heavy
demand, agriculture and food systems will
need to adapt to the adverse effects of climate change and become more resilient, productive and sustainable. This is the only way
that we can ensure the wellbeing of ecosystems and rural populations and reduce emissions.
Growing food in a sustainable way
means adopting practices that produce more
with less in the same area of land and use
natural resources wisely. It also means re-

Publisher & Editor:

Patrick Maitland

Consulting Editors:

Vincent Wright, Jairzenho Bailey

Produced & Published by:

Agri Life Foundation Ltd

AMC Complex,
188 Spanish Town Road,
Kingston 11, Jamaica, W.I.
Tel: (876) 923-7471 923-7428
Fax: (876) 923-7428
agriculturalist@gmail.com
editor@theagriculturalist.com
www.theagriculturalist.com

ducing food losses before the final product

or retail stage through a number of initiatives
including better harvesting, storage, packing,
transport, infrastructure, market mechanisms, as well as institutional and legal
frameworks.
This is why our global message for

World Food Day 2016 is Climate is changing. Food and agriculture must too.
It resonates with the crucial time in
which the day will be observed, just before
the next UN Climate Change Conference,
COP 22, from 7-18 November 2016 in Marrakech, Morocco.

FAO is calling on countries to address

food and agriculture in their climate action
plans and invest more in rural development.
By strengthening the resilience of
smallholder farmers, we can guarantee food
security for the planets increasingly hungry
global population also reduce emissions.

4 THE AGRICULTURALIST OCTOBER 2016

NEWS

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Minard
Livestock Show
& Beef Festival
for Nov. 10

The annual Minard Livestock Show

and Beef Festival is scheduled for the
Agro-invest Minard Estate, Browns
Town, St. Ann on Nov. 10, 2016, 10
a.m. The show is being staged by the
Jamaica Cattle Breeders Society of Jamaica. For further information, contact
Dorrel
Hartley,
show
co-cordinator, at 485-4317 or Lanford
Gardner, planning committee secretary, at 551-1761.

AGRO-PROCESSING FACILITY UNDER CONSTRUCTION:

Project Consultant Gawayne Murdoch (left) of GDM Associates Ltd. describes the layout of the 1,500 sq. ft. agro-processing facility under
construction at the Rural Agricultural Development Authority ( RADA) offices in St James to (l-r) acting CEO Peter Thompson; Minister without portfolio in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, the Hon J.C. Hutchinson, agricultural parish manager Sadie Dickinson Bennett and Kemeisha Batchan project manager from the Jamaica Social Investment Fund. The tour of the facility
followed meeting of the Minister with farmers groups, RADA Board members and parish staff on Thursday, August 11.

Australia's
sugar exports
to hit highest
in a decade

Frosty Pod Rot hits cocoa crop

T
A
rot.

he Cocoa Board is asking citizens to reports all suspected cases of frosty pod

Frosty pod rot only affects the pods, but

is one of the most potentially devastating
diseases affecting cocoa.
Highly contagious, it leads to rotting of
the pod within three months of infestation,
and if left unchecked, could wipe out between 70 and 80 per cent of a cocoa trees
production.
So, with Jamaicas cocoa ranked among
the top five in the world in the fineflavoured list, the confirmation of the disease at a farm in Clarendon is cause for
concern. Local farmers earned an estimated
$422.3 million from the sale of cocoa between 2011 and 2016, with US$7.68 million
in export earnings.
The disease, caused by the fungus
Moniliophthora roreri, invades cocoa pods,
damaging them and the seeds within. This is

manifested in the young pods, showing

light-yellow swellings and sometimes becoming distorted. The seed mass may also
become soft and watery, according to information provided by the Research and Development Division of the Ministry of
Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries.

Older pods show generally large

necrotic (dead), dark-brown spots with irregular borders. Partial or total premature
ripening occurs, and internally, seeds become reddish brown. As the disease advances, most of the necrotic surface
becomes covered by a whitish fungal
growth.
It is for this reason that the agriculture
ministry is appealing to any and everyone
who sees any symptoms resembling frosty
pod rot to report it immediately to the relevant authorities. These include:
Cocoa Industry Board 923-6411
Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) 977-1158-62; toll free 1888-275-7232
Research and Development Division
983-2267
Plant Quarantine Protection Unit 5885844

CASE ALUMNI:

Newly elected executive

members of the College
of Agriculture, Science,
and Education Alumni
Association at their Annual General Meeting
held last Saturday in
New Kingston. In photo
(standing l-r) Webster
McPherson, president;
Kirk Boodie, 2nd-vice
president;
Michael
williams, assistant treasurer; Owain Moodie,
PRO; and (seated l-r)
Joseph Johnson, treasurer; Odean Bradshaw,
secretary; Tabara Montique, assistant secretary; Murie Edwards,
3rd vice-president; and
Alexi Reid, 1st vice-president

ustralia's sugar exports are to hit 4m

tonnes for the first time in a decade,
helped by a boost to production from
"improved seasonal conditions" for the
country's cane crop.
The world's third-largest sugar exporter is expected to ship 4m tonnes in
2016-17, according to the USDA's Sydney bureau.
This is higher than the USDA's official estimate of 3.9m tonnes.
Separately, USDA staff in Sao
Paulo unveiled an increased estimate too
for sugar exports from Brazil, the top
ranked shipper of the sweetener, despite
worsened cane production prospects.
Favourable season, expanded area
The Australian sugar industry is vulnerable to severe weather conditions,
such as cyclones, droughts and flooding.
However, the current Australian Bureau of Meteorology outlook is for
warmer and drier weather. These moderate seasonal factors in recent years have
led to expansion in area and production.
The Australian sugar production is
expected to reach 5.1m tonnes in 201617, according to the report, higher than
official figures at 5m tonnes.
High sugar prices have also encouraged cane farmers to increase production
areas, which have risen over 40 percent
since the beginning of the year to
400,000 hectares, compared to the 10year average of 380,000 hectares.
Returns to cane growers are expected to rise by 19% from a year earlier, according to Abares, an Australian
government crop agency.
A slowdown in sugar production in
the largest sugar exporter Brazil, along
with a number of other countries, has
piped up demand for Australian sugar.

WWW.THEAGRICULTURALIST.COM

OCTOBER 2016 THE AGRICULTURALIST 5

6 THE AGRICULTURALIST OCTOBER 2016

NEWS

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Promoting the use of hydroponic

technology in inner cities:

Karl Samuda (right), Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture

and Fisheries, discusses potting mixture with Burrell Scarlett (2nd
right), chief executive officer of Evergrow Garden Center; Richard
De Quesada (2nd left), international sales manager, Ramon Alvarado (right), technical representative, both of Lambert Peat Moss
Inc; and Don McGlashan, director general of the Ministry, at the
Evergrow-Lambert Peat Moss Inc 'Growing Media and Seedling
Production Seminar in St. Catherine on September 20.

House passes bill to set up

agricultural commodities
regulatory authority

KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS)

Bill to establish the Jamaica
Agricultural Commodities
Regulatory Authority (JACRA)
was passed in the House of Representatives last Tuesday.
The Authority will merge and
replace the existing Coffee Industry Board, Cocoa Industry Board,
the regulatory functions of the Coconut Industry Board and the Export Division of the ministry.
Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries,
Karl Samuda, who piloted the legislation, explained that the JACRA
will be responsible for the development, regulation, promotion,
and standardization of the agricultural commodities industry.
This, he said, will ensure the
efficient and competitive development of the sector.
Minister Samuda noted that the establishment of the JACRA was
recommended following a 2009
study commissioned by the ministry to determine the efficiency
and continued relevance of the
commodities boards in light of
government policies and the shifting mode in international trade
arrangements.

He said the JACRA will assume responsibility for the boards,

including the setting of quality
standards for coffee, coffee blends,
cocoa, coconut, and spices such as
nutmeg, turmeric, pimento, and
ginger.
The Authority will also provide technical support to stakeholders, grant licenses, and
generally regulate trade in the agricultural commodities industry.
JACRA will also be responsible for making regulations with the
approval of the responsible minister.
The legislation also provides
for the creation of a director general, who will be tasked with the
daily administration of the authority and report to the board of directors.
The board will be responsible
for the policy, strategic direction
and governance of the authority,
among other things.
For his part, Opposition
Spokesperson on Agriculture, Dr
Dayton Campbell, stated his support for the Bill, which was passed
with two amendments.
It will be sent to the Senate
for its approval.

Specialty Coffee is new

owner of Mavis Bank

amaica Producers Group Limited (JP) and Pan Jamaican Investment Trust Limited recently announced on that they have entered
into an agreement to transfer shares in Mavis Bank Coffee Factory
Limited (MBCF) to Specialty Coffee Investments Company Limited
(SCI).
Specialty Coffee is acquiring the shares through JP subsidiary JP
Tropical Group Limited, and Scotts Preserves Limited, a subsidiary
of Pan Jamaican Investment Trust Limited, which each own 50 per
cent of the company.
The Michael Lee Chin owned company, whose other investment
company, AIC International Investments bought Wallenford Coffee
Company for US$16 million ($1.6 billion) in 2013. Wallenford is the
islands other major Blue Mountain coffee producer.

WWW.THEAGRICULTURALIST.COM

JAS recorded net loss of $8.2 M

OCTOBER 2016 THE AGRICULTURALIST 7

A
Hutchinson wants
GCT removed
imported farm
supplies

INISTER without Portfolio

in the Ministry of Industry,
Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, JC Hutchinson, says he will
be advocating for the removal of
general consumption tax (GCT)
on imported farm supplies.
Hutchinson noted that these
items, which contribute to the development of the local agricultural industry and help to increase
farmers production, should not
attract GCT.
The farmer will have more
money to buy two tins of tomato
seeds, instead of one, the minister emphasized.
Hutchinson was addressing
the final day of a two-day Climate-Smart Agriculture Symposium, held at The Jamaica
Pegasus hotel, in New Kingston.
He reiterated the need for
more idle lands to be irrigated for
agricultural production, and cited
South Manchester as one such
area where approximately 5,000
acres of land remain non-irrigated.
No longer can idle lands be
lying around and water is available and we do not have farmers
on the land. We need to put a better structure into our agricultural
sector, he said.

JOAM presents
Organic October

he Jamaica Organic Agriculture Movement (JOAM) invites everyone to join them in

celebrating the growing use of organic agriculture as a means to
providing naturally healthy food,
protecting the environment and
managing impacts of climate
change.
Under the theme, "Organic
October", the month-long series of
farmer-led local events, will culminate on Thursday October 27th,
2016 with a Public Symposium
Celebrating Organic at UWI.
JOAM AGM followed at
2pm by Caribbean Academy of
Sciences Symposium Celebrating
Organic. This will highlight the
positive contribution of Organic
Agriculture to Prevention, Mitigation and Adaptation of Climate
Change impacts; Sustainability;
Food Safety and Wellness.

By Patrick Maitland
The Agriculturalist Editor

fter recording a low $928,756 net profit during the year

ending March 31, 2015, the Jamaica Agricultural Society
(JAS) has recorded a whopping $8.2 million loss at the end of
the March 31, 2016 financial year.

According to the financial

statement in the Societys annual
report for the period ending
March 2016, operating revenue
totaled $96.2 million, an increase
of $3.6 million or 4 percent, over
the financial year ending March
2015.
An $80.47 million subvention from the Government contributed over 84 percent of the
JAS total income during 2016.
Operating expenses totaled
$105.3 million, a $12.2 million or
10 percent increase over the
2014/2015 period.
We have been implementing
some deliberate strategies to reduce cost. However, we had increased operating costs associated
with staff and travelling as a result
of a movement in wage rate by the
government, the reports claimed.
The societys total assets
stood at $525.1 million, an increase of $41.5 million, when
compared to the 2014/2015 period.
However, the total liabilities
was $20.14 million, an increased
of 16.8 million.
With a bank overdraft of
$473,835 and only $1.64 million
as cash-in-hand, the JAS could
face a major cash flow problem in
the new fiscal year if it fails to
generate more revenue, while cutting back on operating expenses.
During the year, the JAS repaid a $22.2 million loan with the
First Global Bank with a loan of
$35 million from the National
Commercial Bank (NCB).
The $12.8 million balance
from the NCB loans are being repaid at $461,590 per month. The
loans are secured by liens on the
JASs real estate. Final payment is
set for 2031.
The popular Denbigh Agricultural and Industrial Show,
which is staged by the Society,
recorded a $1.64 million profit
last year, compared with $5.35
million, or a 68.4 percent, decline
in the previous year. Operating
revenue was 53.45 in 2016, compared with $75.92 in 2015, while
expenses stood at 46.92 million
(2016) and $65.64 million (2015),
according to the report.
In his comments on the JAS
annual report, president Norman
Grant told The Agriculturalist
that while the organizations profit
experienced decline as a result of
increases in staff travelling and
other operating experiences, the
positive revaluation of lands and
buildings owned by the Society

were among the positive trends.

Our buildings in Port Antonio
and Savanna-la-mar are being developed to provide additional
rental income in the coming year,
he disclosed.
We do face challenges, however, if you recalled where we are
coming from, today the JAS is in
a much better position financially,
but we will continue to manage

NORMAN GRANT
President, JAS

our expenses and strengthen our

income sources, Grant noted.
Meanwhile, the JAS board of
management got directors emoluments of $2.01 million, while
President Grant got an honorarium of $4.5 million, which he said
included the few years he was not
paid. The JAS senior executives
received $9.43 million in compensations.
The JAS continued to experience a decline in membership,
who contributes only 0.2 percent
of its revenues. Total affiliated
members in 2015/2016 were
3,843, compared with 4,389 during the year 2014/2015.

8 THE AGRICULTURALIST OCTOBER 2016

WORLD FOOD DAY FEATURE

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Transforming agriculture to address

climate change and other global challenges

ROME:
he agricultural sector must transform itself not only to achieve food and nutrition security for all, but also to help address
global challenges such as climate change and
antimicrobial resistance, FAO Director- General Jos Graziano da Silva said recently.
In a speech to ministers, government,
private sector and civil society representatives attending the biannual meeting of FAO's
Committee on Agriculture (COAG, 26-30
September), the Director-General noted how
"agriculture is at the very heart" of a recent
series of ground-breaking international
agreements, including the Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Climate
Change Agreement.
"Sustainable agriculture is paramount to
eradicate extreme poverty and hunger, to sustain natural resources, to adapt to and mitigate the impacts of climate change, to
achieve healthier food systems and to build
resilience against crises and natural disasters," Graziano da Silva said.
But he noted that while past developments in agriculture have led to major improvements in productivity, "progress has
been uneven" and that "greater emphasis
must be placed on the social and environmental dimensions of sustainability".
Sierra Leone's Minister for Agriculture,
Forestry and Food Security, Monty Patrick

Jones, also addressed the meeting, stressing

that in Africa boosting agricultural productivity in a sustainable way is not only essential for food and nutrition security, but is also
critical to eradicating poverty.
In particular, small-holder farmers
"should produce food not just for the table,
but also for the market," he said, urging governments to play their part by supporting the
process and increasing investments.
"We've seen an increase in investments
... but only a few invest 10 percent" of their
budget on agriculture Jones said, referring to
a pledge made by African leaders in the 2003
Maputo Declaration.
Another keynote speaker at today's
COAG opening, Joachim von Braun, Director of University of Bonn's Center for Development Research, underscored the need for
scientific innovation in agriculture to go
hand-in-hand with policy reform.
"Agriculture and food systems are transforming, and that must be supported by a
sound cooperation between science and policy," von Braun said.
He told participants that for this purpose,
an International Panel on Food, Nutrition and
Agriculture should be established to assist the
international community in the same way as
the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
Change (IPCC) "helps guide global climate
policy".

BY JOS GRAZIANO DA SILVA

FAO Director- General

FAO action on antimicrobial resistance

and climate change. Graziano da Silva, noting that the "role of agriculture goes beyond
generating food and income," referred to
FAO's recent commitment at the United Nations General Assembly to work closely with
the World Health Organization (WHO) and
the World Organisation for Animal Health

(OIE) to curb antimicrobial resistance

(AMR).
"We at FAO believe that antibiotics and
other antimicrobials should be used in agriculture to cure diseases and to alleviate suffering. Only under strict circumstances they
could be used to prevent an imminent threat
of infection," the Director-General said.
Graziano da Silva also pointed to growing international recognition that agriculture
can play a transformative role in addressing
the impacts of climate change.
Countries are set to gather for the COP
22 summit in Morocco in November to put
into motion their pledges on climate change,
and FAO "stands ready to assist governments, especially of developing countries to
have access to international resources that are
available to finance these actions," he said.
FAO support for 245 initiatives in 89
countries. Graziano da Silva told participants
at COAG's opening session today that in
2014-15, FAO supported 245 initiatives in 89
countries to promote sustainable agricultural
production practices based on participatory
approaches.
"Results have well exceeded our targets.
More than 80 of these initiatives were implemented in Africa alone," the FAO DirectorGeneral said.

WWW.THEAGRICULTURALIST.COM

WORLD FOOD DAY FEATURE

OCTOBER 2016 THE AGRICULTURALIST 9

Building our
farmers capacity!

he recent passage of Hurricane

Matthew throughout several Caribbean
countries and the United States is an everpresent reminder that more frequently occurring extreme weather events are taking
place, not only here in Jamaica, but across
the world.
Sadly, these events have resulted not
only in a loss of lives and destruction of
properties, but also crop yield losses and
decreasing livestock population.
Undoubtedly, these events exasperate
an already precarious situation and could
lead to critical food shortages. The fact is
that climate change affects the worlds poor
hardest, with over 70% of them relying on
agriculture and natural resources for their
livelihood.
Data from the Food and Agriculture
Organization (FAO) indicate that about
25% of the negative economic impacts
from climate-related disasters in developing countries are borne by the crop, livestock, fisheries and forestry sectors. As a
Government, we therefore have no option
but to mitigate the impact of climate
change on our vulnerable populations.
It is within this context that I welcome
the opportunity to join with the FAO in recognizing World Food Day 2016 under the
theme Climate is Changing. Food and
Agriculture Must Too. With the many attendant challenges of climate change on the
agricultural sector, the Government has
recognized the compelling necessity to facilitate this process by putting in place the
policies/programmes required for change
in food and agriculture.

BY KARL SAMUDA
Minister of Industry, Commerce,
Agriculture and Fisheries

In that regard, the Ministry, in collaboration with other key stakeholders, has
been implementing a number of climate
change adaptation and mitigation strategies
to include best practices and promotion of
climate-smart agriculture and proper water
These strategies are aimed at building
our farmers capacity to improve their production and productivity as we strive towards food security and a reduction of
Jamaicas food import bill.
Lets all play our part in addressing
climate change which is crucial to our continued fight against hunger as we join the
rest of the world in working towards
achieving our goal of zero hunger by 2030.

TROPICAL
FARMERS
ALMANAC 2017
Order your copies of

923-7471

BOOK YOUR ADVERTS

agriculturalist@gmail.com

THE JAMAICA DAIRY DEVELOPMENT BOARD

The Jamaica Dairy Development Board

10 THE AGRICULTURALIST OCTOBER 2016

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supports climate change mitigating interventions

By Byron Lawrence, Coordinator,

Dairy Sector Revitalisation Programme
cross the world, the livestock sectors have been immensely affected by the impacts of climate change, and as such, the traditional approach to the rearing of livestock should be appropriately
modified in order to realize enhanced production of these sectors.
By so doing, livestock will be better able to withstand the effects of
the harsh climatic conditions in an attempt to produce more to satisfy
the demand of an expanding population.
As Jamaicas agricultural sector recognises World Food Day on
October 14, 2016, the Jamaica Dairy Development Board (JDDB) is
willing to share its successes in increasing the production and consumption of Farm Fresh Dairy Milk from healthy dairy animals, supported by mitigating the adverse impacts of climate change. Following
are some of the outcomes of the JDDB climate change mitigating interventions:
Temperature increase
The JDDB has distributed brochures on the importance of supplying an adequate amount of water for the Dairy animals, inasmuch as
87% of milk is made of water. Also, through the JDDBs Watering Assistance Programme, both small and large dairy farmers were given watering troughs, and eight (8) sylvo-pastoral systems were established
on selected farmers holdings, to provide forage and shade for the dairy
animals.

Feed quality and Diseases

The JDDB has provided farmers with improved grass cultivars as
well as other forages, the most popular being the Mulato II (Bracharia
spp). These grasses are able to withstand climatic conditions and are resistant to many pests and diseases, while providing a high dry matter
and crude protein content, including other essential elements that are
important in the animals diet.
Farmers have been educated in the importance of fodder conservation such as hay and silage, Mulato II grass cultivar is recommended for
the hay production. These conservation methods are implemented either
prior to the onset of drought (hay) or is used when green fodder is available (silage).

Everton Parkes, Farming Systems Specialist at Jamaica Dairy Development

Board points to silage-an age old proven technology of conserving fodder which
is promoted by the Board.

Adaptation
The JDDB continues its facilitation of animal improvement programmes designed to engender the genetic improvement of dairy animals in Jamaica, through the process of selection, reared under extreme
environmental conditions. The objective is to realize enhanced milk
production, on a sustainable basis within the context of constraints imposed by the uncertainty of a dynamic environment, dictated by the
phenomenon of climate change.
For further information contact:

THE JAMAICA DAIRY

DEVELOPMENT BOARD

Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries

Hope Gardens, Kingston 6.
Tel: 1 876 927 1731-41; Ext: 2218/2241
FAX:+1 876 977 1875 E-mail: dairyboard@micaf.gov.jm

Bracharia spp at 7-8 weeks at a farm in Clarendon. This variety is drought tolerant and is among the forage species been promoted by The Jamaica Dairy Development Board.

THE JAMAICA DAIRY DEVELOPMENT BOARD

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OCTOBER 2016 THE AGRICULTURALIST 11

Hay production is another age-old proven technology for fodder conservation that is promoted by
The JDDB.

Grass fields that are cut too low or overgrazed takes a longer time to recover. To
optimise productivity, The JDDB promotes proper pasture rotation and or harvesting cycles that are appropriate to the particular forage specie.

Mr. Donald Elvey, Chairman of The Jamaica Dairy Development Board (JDDB)
converses with a dairy farmer, Ing. Rafael T. Talamas Martnez in Mexico on the
high productivity of a zero grazing dairy farming system. Mr. Elvey was leading
a delegation from Jamaica recently on a technical mission to Mexico organised
by The Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture and Agromod,
Mexico.

Dairy cows consuming silage. With proper nutrition, cattle can average over 30 litres of milk per day. Jamaica currently averages 7 litres per cow per day. The JDDB
is seeking to significantly increase productivity through its production and productivity enhancement programmes.

For further information contact:

THE JAMAICA DAIRY DEVELOPMENT BOARD

Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries Hope Gardens, Kingston 6.

Telephone:+1 876 927 1731-41; Ext: 2218/2241 FAX:+1 876 977 1875 E-mail: dairyboard@micaf.gov.jm

Dairy Boards Milk for Mothers

Programme Helping to Improve Dairy sector

12 THE AGRICULTURALIST OCTOBER 2016

WWW.THEAGRICULTURALIST.COM

n pursuit of its mandate to promote the viability of the dairy

sector, the Jamaica Dairy Development Board (JDDB) has been implementing measures to expand
milk production and consumption
in Jamaica.
The latest consumer-based activity urges pregnant women to
drink more milk to improve their
nutrition, the nutrition of their unborn babies and to stimulate their
own milk production for healthy
breastfeeding after their babies are
born.
The initiative is part of the Postnatal and Antenatal Nutrition Support Programme, which the JDDB
first announced at the press launch
of World Milk Day which was observed on June 1 this year.
The JDDB is partnering with
four milk processors Edwards
Dairy based in Hanover, Island
Dairies Limited based in St. Ann,
Jamaica Beverages based in St.
Catherine and Serge Island Dairies
based on St. Thomasas well as Regional Health Authorities of the
Ministry of Health.
Under the programme, pregnant
women enrolled at various antenatal clinics of selected health facilities are provided with three pints of
milk each every week for 12 weeks.
First launched as a pilot in a few
locations, the programme has now
been expanded to include at least
one health facility in each parish.
Already the programme has been
implemented at health centres in
Montego Bay and Cambridge, St
James; Savanna-La-Mar, Westmoreland; Ramble, Hanover; Falmouth, Trelawny; Alexandria, St.
Ann; Oracabessa, St. Mary; New
Market and Aberdeen in St. Elizabeth and Mandeville, Manchester.
The programme to encourage
pregnant women to drink more milk
will also be implemented in May
Pen, Clarendon; Spanish Town and
Linstead in St. Catherine; Red Hills
Road, Stony Hill, and Gordon
Town in St. Andrew; Slipe Road in
Kingston; Morant Bay, St. Thomas
and Port Antonio in Portland.

Mr. Hugh Graham, CEO at the Jamaica Dairy Development Board

(JDDB) (r) presents a package
with milk to Ms. Thalene Campbell
(2nd right), client at the antenatal
clinic of the New Market Health
Centre, St. Elizabeth. The presentation is part of the Postnatal and
Antenatal Nutrition Support Programme being implemented at
health facilities across the country by the JDDB in collaboration
with milk processors and the Regional Health Authorities of the
Ministry of Health. Also in photo
(l-r) are Mr. Livingston Binns, Marketing Manager at Island Dairies
Limited; Mr. Sean Brissett, Parish
Manager with the St. Elizabeth
Health Service and Mrs. Alice
Carney, Regional Nutritionist with
the Southern Regional Health Authority.

Mr. Byron Lawrence (l), Project

Manager for the Dairy Revitalisation Programme of the JDDB,
presents milk processed by Island Dairies Limited to Dr. Beverly
Wright (2nd right) Medical Officer
of Health for Manchester during a
presentation of milk to pregnant
women at the Manchester Comprehensive Clinic on September
23. Also (l-r) Mr. Earl McLaughlin,
Parish Manager for the Manchester Health Services and Mr. Livingston
Binns,
Marketing
Manager for Island Dairies Limited. The donation of three pints
of milk to each pregnant mother
at the clinic every week for three
months is part of the Postnatal
and Antenatal Nutrition Support
Programme being implemented in
each parish by the JDDB in collaboration with milk processors in
Jamaica and the Health Authorities of the Ministry of Health.
Dr. Beverly Wright, Medical Officer
of Health for Manchester (2nd left)
talks to Ms. Shericka Bennett (2nd
r) about the benefits of milk for her
and her unborn baby. The occasion was the presentation of milk
to pregnant women at the Mandeville Comprehensive Clinic as part
of the Postnatal and Antenatal Nutrition Support Programme being
implemented at health facilities
across the country by the JDDB in
collaboration with milk processors
and the Regional Health Authorities of the Ministry of Health.
Under the programme, pregnant
women at selected health centres
each receive three pints of milk
per week for three months as nutrition
support.
Mr.
Byron
Lawrence (l) Project Manager for
the JDDBs Dairy Revitalisation
Project and Mr. Livingston Binns,
Marketing Manager at Island
Dairies Limited, participate in the
presentation.

THE JAMAICA DAIRY DEVELOPMENT BOARD - Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries Hope Gardens, Kingston 6.
Telephone:+1 876 927 1731-41; Ext: 2218/2241 FAX:+1 876 977 1875 E-mail: dairyboard@micaf.gov.jm

WWW.THEAGRICULTURALIST.COM

OCTOBER 2016 THE AGRICULTURALIST 13

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AGRO-CHEMICAL FEATURE
Environmental Effects of
the use of Agrochemicals

14 THE AGRICULTURALIST OCTOBER 2016

his includes a wide range of

chemicals in the form of pesticides, weed killers/herbicide,
fungicides, nematicides and artificial fertilizer. Using chemicals
bring obvious advantages to the
farmer and the consumer, but there
are also disadvantages.
However, recently there have
been expressions of concern
among some scientists and agricultural practitioners of the adverse
impact of the use of agricultural
chemicals, on the environment.

Advantage of using
agricultural chemicals
The advantages include:
The effects of application may be
seen relatively quickly: pests and
weeds can be destroyed before
they cause much damage to the
crop

Improved crop yield: crops

benefit from the removal of weeds
and pests, and will grow better;
farmers make more profit; there is
a better supply of quality produce
to the consumer
Pest and weed control takes less
time: manually applied cultural
methods are more time- consuming and labour intensive
The farmer who uses chemicals
has more time for other operations

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A longer storage life for food

Reduction in the overhead expenses on the farm: with the use of
herbicide labour cost is reduce significantly.

Disadvantages of
agro chemicals
They get dispersed into the environment and disrupt the balance of
the ecosystem
Chemicals applied to the soils or
sprayed on to crops can be leached
by rain water into rivers and underground aquifers, eventually into
the ocean
Excessive use of chemicals can
cause pollution and affect both
plant and animal life
Prolong use of the same chemical over time can cause pathogens
to become resistant to the pesticide
Chemicals can build up in organisms (such as shellfish) and subsequently move throughout the food
chain
Fertilizers such as NPK get
washed from farm lands into
rivers; the increase in nitrates and
phosphates cause algae growth to
increase (eutrophication)

RADA GETS MAGNIFYING HAND LENS:

Peter Thompson- RADA CEO (Acting), Jenelia Attalla RADA Chairman, Olive Downer- Deputy CEO H&L, Vincent Gall- Syngenta Sales Manager Dom Rep. and Caribbean and Victor Guevara Syngenta Marketing Rep. Dom
Rep. and Caribbean displaying some of the 100 magnifying hand lens donated to RADA for use by Agricultural Extension Officers in the proper identification and diagnosis of agricultural pests and diseases.

Source:
The Jamaica Dairy
Development Board

Use Pesticides Safely:

Be sure plant and site is on

the label.
Be sure pest is on the label.
Follow label directions for
mixing.
Follow label directions
about wearing protective
clothing.
Check label for other precautions.
Protective Clothing and
Equipment.

BEST OVERALL PERFORMANCE AWARD:

Doreen Lawson (second right front row) of KDL Agricultural Supplies receives the Hi-Pro Feeds Best Overall Performance Award from Conley Salmon (right), VP, Agricultural Marketing for Jamaica Broilers Group, while members
of the Hi-Pro team and staff of KDL Agricultural Supplies also celebrate the occasion which was held on Sept 25 at
Jewel, Runaway Bay to honour Hi-Pro Feeds dealers.

SBE host Farmers Workshop

OctoberNovember

BE Business Support Center

was established in 2010 as a
private organization to provide the
Small Business sector a special
service in Business couching, prepaid business plans and other relative services.
In this year SBE have rebranded and rename SBE Construction Business Development
Services Ltd., now refocused towards farming development
through training with new technology skills.
SBE recent survey at Denbigh 2016, which revealed that
there is a urgent need to equip the
Jamaican Farmers with modern

skills. In keeping with the Government policy SBE will be hosting four farmers Workshop under
the theme Supporting Agriculture
Through Training and Export
Marketing, in the parish Mandeville, St. Andrew, St. Elizabeth
and St. Mary.
These workshop will commence on October 28, 29 and 31
(Kingston); November 3-5; (Mandeville) November 10-12 (St. Elizabeth); November 17-19 (St.
Mary) 2016 respectively,
For further details, please
contact: Derrick Rodgers, MAP
International 1-876-789-5551

HI-PRO PARTNERS WITH OVER 200 FEED

STORES TO DRIVE RETAIL SALES TO $17 B

i-Pro has attributed a significant portion of its multi-billion

dollar revenue for 2015 to the outstanding support of local farm
stores, dealers, and farmers island
wide. The company has been working with over 200 dealers across the
island to grow their businesses in
support of the agricultural industry.
Last year the average dealer
increased revenue by about 20 per
cent and we estimate that these
stores made retail sales in excess of
J$17 billion collectively, said Mr.
Salmon Vice President, Agricultural
Marketing for Jamaica Broilers
Group.
In recognition of this growth,
Hi-Pro a division of The Jamaica
Broilers Group held an awards
function on Sunday, September 25
at Jewels Runaway Bay to honour a
number of the over 100 dealers in
attendance.

In his address to the gathering,

Mr. Salmon said: We recognise the
important role these stores play in
their communities as the main
sources of products, information
and much needed credit. So Hi-Pro
has been giving support through a
series of seminars in stores and on
farms to drive business to the dealers and grow agriculture through a
sustained partnership.
Hi-Pro also introduced new
products to the market from such
major brands as BASF, Agricenter,
and Monsanto, for pest control, improved plant health and nutrition.
These were in addition to new lines
of animal care and health products
like the over-the-counter Frontline
flea and tick control for dogs and
cats.
Details of these products were
presented jointly at the Awards Ceremony by Dayne Patterson, Busi-

ness Development Manager for HiPro and Tricia Jackson, Stores Operations Manager, Hi-Pro Ace
Supercentre.
Agriculture is growing, as the
Ministry of Industry, Commerce
Agriculture & Fisheries can attest
and as we can see in the increase in
sales and profits in the industry,
Mr. Salmon said.
The Vice President at Jamaica
Broilers Group noted that the Ministry of Agriculture has confirmed
that local broiler production from
small and large farms had reached
2.5 million kilos a week, up from
about 2 million and is poised to
grow further to 3 million kilos a
week, as we displace imports with
local production.
Which other industry has
grown by such leaps and bounds in
one year? he asked.

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OCTOBER 2016 THE AGRICULTURALIST 15

16 THE AGRICULTURALIST OCTOBER 2016

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