Hi Pro promises a revolution at Denbigh

The Jamaica Broilers Group, through its Hi-Pro brand, will continue to make its presence felt at the annual Denbigh Agricultural, Industrial and Food Show, which gets under way today and continues until Sunday.

For Christopher Levy, president and chief executive officer of the group, this year's $20 million title sponsorship is a reflection of its continuing commitment to local agriculture and especially small farmers.

"We're in it for the long haul," Levy declared at the official launch held on the lawns of Hi-Pro Ace Supercentre in White Marl, St Catherine. "It's a symbiotic relationship whereby we are able to leverage the size of Jamaica Broilers and the reach of our company and our experience to the small farmers," he said.

"Whether you are at a five-acre, or you are growing a hundred chickens, or you have 10 sows, it doesn't matter. You're very important to us because agriculture is the backbone of our small country, and we need to recognise that. It is fundamental to the economy, and we like it, we enjoy it," Levy emphasised.

Cutting-edge developments

Dayne Patterson, business development manager of the Hi-Pro Division, used the occasion to serve notice that the company would unleash a suit of cutting-edge developments in agro technology designed to revolutionise local agriculture. These include products and programmes to address challenges in coffee, banana, sugarcane, vegetable, as well as livestock. They are also designed to translate into financial viability and profit for small farmers.

"We want to eradicate coffee leaf spot and leaf rust. We want to eradicate the beet army worm. We have products that we will showcase to all farmers that they can come and play their part in controlling that invasion and reduce mortality overall in livestock and poultry," Patterson disclosed. These products should have an impact on the increased finished weights for pig and poultry farmers and increase egg production.

"We believe that a profitable farmer, ultimately, will lead to a sustainable agricultural sector. That's the only way for us to move forward, and Hi-Pro puts all its resources behind the Denbigh product to ensure that the message goes across to the farmer. If there is no sustainability in agriculture, we will have a difficult time moving forward as an industry," the Hi Pro executive pointed out.

However, the annual show will not only be about business as the very popular National Farm Queen Competition will close out the first day; Digicel Rising Stars competitors will answer the entertainment call on Saturday; with the highly anticipated Hi-Pro Gospel Extravaganza being the final event on Sunday. In addition, the Hi-Pro Games will be extended over all three days in a bid to get more patrons involved in events like sack races and egg and spoon contests.